Posted by Brabston Crouch on January 28, 2003:

Charles Lanham Crouch Jr. was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the only child of Charles and Carol Brabston Crouch. When he was very young, the family moved to the San Francisco Bay. They made their home in the peninsula communities of San Mateo, and then Burlingame, before settling in the hills above Oakland. Charlie's passion for the service was evident early, as he chose to attend preparatory school at the Riverside Military Academy, in Gainesville, Georgia. At Riverside, Charlie distinguished himself as 1st Battalion major while earning 18 merit ribbon awards and 24 honor roll commendations. His senior year, classmates voted him "Best Sport", "Best Personality" and "Best All-Round". Charlie entered West Point in July of 1944 and passionately embraced its ideals and aspirations. His experience at the Academy was one he would cherish for the remainder of his life. As a cadet, Charlie met Miss Betty Clayton Washburn, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. H.B Washburn of Louisville, Kentucky. Betty Clayton was studying at nearby Briarcliff College. A month after Charlie's graduation in July of 1948, he and Betty exchanged their vows at a Louisville wedding. Charlie's first commissioned assignment, along with many infantrymen in his class, was at Fort Riley, Kansas. By the end of the year, a transfer took him to Fort Benning, Georgia. Six months later, a new deployment sent Charlie and Betty overseas to Germany, their post for the next 3 years. Upon his return to the states, he was assigned the position of Professor of Military Science at Western Maryland College. During this tenure Charlie and Betty experienced the birth of their 1st child, Charles III, in October of '52. After 2 years of teaching, the family relocated back to Georgia, where Charlie entered Advanced Infantry School at Fort Benning. In 1955, drawn by a strong desire to return to California and his increasing interest in the law profession, Charlie resigned from the service. He was accepted at the University of Southern California School of Law and began preparing for his 1st year of study. But his plans were delayed, as he was needed back in Georgia to assist his father, whose health was failing, with a large land development venture. While there in Augusta, the family was blessed with their 2nd child, John Clayton, in August of '56. Charlie never abandoned the goal of a legal career, and the following year he managed to move to California and enroll at USC Law School. He gained his degree in 1960, 2 months before the arrival of their 3rd son, Brabston, in September. Immediately upon graduation, Charlie was hired by Jerry Giesler, famed Hollywood criminal attorney. Eventually, he joined the well-respected litigation firm of Robert Neeb, a former Giesler office partner. During these initial years as a lawyer, immersed in high-profile legal battles, Charlie developed a keen interest in criminal law. In 1963, armed with rich and varied experience and graced with innate legal skills, he opened his own law practice, in Los Angeles. He was soon attracting his own high-profile clients while working on prominent legal matters. His focus was on litigation and he became highly sought after for his success in the courtroom. By the 1970's the scope of his work had broadened greatly. He was running a busy general practice, and was an eminent specialist in family law. His career flourished until his retirement In 1990. Charlie acquired a unique and notable reputation among members of the legal community. While regarded as a brilliant and tenacious courtroom combatant, he was soundly respected as a decent, ethical and honorable gentleman, by judges, opposing counsel and bailiffs alike. Of all his accomplishments and affiliations, the military was his proudest association. But Charles Crouch's true devotion was to his family. He was a determined, selfless provider whose priorities remained at home. His greatest pleasures flowed from his roles as little league coach, Indian Guide chief, storyteller and father. He was the consummate family vacation planner, tour guide, counselor and husband. He treasured the time spent with his family and proudly instilled in his children the sense of honor and integrity that he himself spent a lifetime demonstrating. He is dearly missed by his wife, three sons and six grandchildren.

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