Obituary

John David McCrone, Ph.D.

November 9, 1934 - November 30, 2011

John David McCrone, Ph.D., 77, of Mooresville, passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville.
He was born on November 9, 1934 in Somerville, MA, to the late John McCrone and Doris Swimm McCrone. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Florida in 1961 and as a graduate student in Arachnology he discovered a new species of spider, which was named for him (Geolycosa xera archboldi McCrone). During his academic career he served as a Professor and Dean at various universities including the University of Florida, University of the Pacific, University of Iowa, Western Carolina University, Clemson University and Pittsburg State University. Dr. McCrone also served as an advisor to the National Park Service. He was on the steering committee for the Blue Ridge Parkway and helped guide it into the 21st century. He had a love of travel and visited 31 different countries. He was a veteran serving the US Army.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Bruce McCrone.
Dr. McCrone is survived by his wife of 54 years, Hazel Dixon McCrone; children, David McCrone and Laura Scruggs and husband, Kevin both of Mooresville; brother, Donald McCrone and wife, Carole of Oregon; sister, Susan Ries and husband, Dewey of Florida; grandchildren, Kyle Scruggs, Hannah Scruggs, Ian McCrone, Katrina Slobojan, Marina Slobojan.
A private Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 3 at Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church with the Rev. Mark Forbes officiating. His remains will be interred at the Salisbury National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.