Andrew Crutcher

Andrew J. Crutcher was born on July 14, 1921 in Richmond, Kentucky to the late Andrew J. Crutcher, Sr. and Elizabeth Willis Crutcher. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five sisters and one brother. His wife, Burdella Miller Crutcher died in 2001. He made his transition on Sunday, December 11, 2011 at Veterans Administration Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Known affectionately as ?Andy James? or ?Andy? to his relatives and friends and ?Deacon Crutcher? at Zion, he moved to Cincinnati to seek work before the age of 20. On October 18, 1942, he married Burdella, his high school sweetheart. The following day, he was mistakenly drafted into the Army, and served until Decem-ber, 1945. Their oldest son, Ronald, was born in February of 1947; and Larry was born ten and one half months later. Gregory, the youngest of their three children, was born in 1955.
Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Andy James returned to work at the Cincinnati Milacron, the world?s largest machine tool com-pany. He worked his way up through the ranks to become the first African American super-visor in the 1960?s. At the time of his retirement from Milacron in 1982, he was asked to write about his experiences as one of the pioneer African American middle managers at Milacron.
An unwavering servant of God, Andy James was devoted to Zion Baptist Church, having been a member for almost sixty years. Over the years, he served the church in numerous capacities, ranging from Scoutmaster of Zion?s Troop 318 to Chair of the Deacon Board. He was appointed a Deacon Emeritus in 2010. Following retirement and a stint as a volunteer for the Red Cross, Andy James also served as the Turnkey, keeper of the keys and the schedule among other things, for Zion. He held this position until he was 88 years old. Fiercely committed to order, structure and discipline, Deacon Crutcher, as he was known at Zion, was a spirited and formidable figure in this role.
Andy James loved to sing. He was a former mem-ber of the Zion Men?s Chorus and the Senior Choir. For many years, he sang with a community men?s ensemble, the Excelsior Singers founded by Zion?s late music director, James V. Roach. Before he was afflicted with edema two years ago, he loved to lead the singing of songs at the weekly Zion Prayer Meeting.
A member of the Wesley Smith Lodge #107 for more than 50 years, Andy James became much more active in the Masons following his retire-ment. His promotion to supervisor precluded his regular participation, because of his work schedule. However, he eventually served two terms as the Worshipful Master of his lodge, and he was also a member of the King Solomon Consistory #20.
Andy James was a loving husband who made it possible for Burdella to remain in their home until the day that she passed away. As a father, he was an excellent role model and instilled good Christian values in his three sons. He loved his family, and his most pressing concern about moving into an assisted-living community was his ability to surround himself with the photographs and other momentos of his family. Beyond his family, Andy James touched the lives of many, many people through his work with the Boy Scouts, the Laymen?s League, and his other leadership roles at Zion and Milacron.
He is survived by: three sons, Ronald (Betty), Larry and Gregory (Sherry); his grandchildren, Shelley Nicole (Nickie), Sara, Andrew and Morgan; his brother, George W. Crutcher (Martha); his sister, Nanette (Nannie) Oliver (General) and his brother, Newland Crutcher (Velma); two sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law, Olivia Yarbrough, Eva Ogletree, David (Betty) Miller and Herbert (Lisa) Miller; and a host of relatives and friends.
We will miss him, and we will need to recon-figure our world without him. Somehow things won?t quite be the same without his laugh, his quirky way of pronouncing certain names, or his morning rituals. However, we know that he is in a better place. We also know that the world is a better place, because he was here.