Judith M. (Anderson) Ash – 87, of North Reading, formerly of Lynn and Newton, died Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington.

Born in Boston, MA on July 6, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Walter A. and Elva S. (Ford) Anderson. Judith was raised in Newton and was a graduate of Newton High School, Class of 1951.

She worked as a secretary for Boston University, Service Systems in North Reading and Compugraphic in North Reading. Judith retired from Compugraphic as a Marketing Representative.

She has been a resident of North Reading for the past 61 years. She was a member of the Newcomer’s Club, Girl Scouts, Granite State Wheelmen Bicycle Club and East Coast Sidebanders Radio Club. Judith loved oil painting, rug hooking and knitting.

Family members include her loving husband of 68 years, Howard M. Ash; her son, Russell H. Ash and his wife Karen of Nashua, NH; daughters, Carolyn J. Ash of North Reading and Martha E. Hartery and her husband Owen of Chelmsford; 4 grandchildren, Brian, Laura, Shannon and Colleen; 3 great grandchildren, Alana, Austin and Julian; she was the sister of the late Warren C. Anderson.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Edwin H. Stiles – 89, of Peabody, formerly of North Reading and Malden, died at his home on Sunday September 20, 2020 with his family by his side. Edwin fought a valiant battle against cancer. He was the loving husband of 53 years to the late Norma J. (Sinclair) Stiles.

Born in Melrose, MA on April 10, 1931, He was the sone of the late Hollis E. and E. Marie (Hills) Stiles. Ed was a graduate of Essex Agricultural Technical High School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Ed was a U.S. Air Force Veteran having served as Captain from 1955 – 1957. He was a member of the 804^th Air Police Squad JAC and was stationed in Morocco and Georgia, USA. He was a member of the Air National Guard from 1957 – 1969.

Ed was a manager for Whittemore Greenhouse from 1956 to 1972. He was Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds, for the North Reading Public School from 1972 until he retired.

Ed was a member of the North Reading Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star, a member of the Senior Echos Choir, North Reading High School Building Committee, the Stiles Family of America and the Brooksby Singers.

He has been a former resident of North Reading, for 53 years, and a resident of Brooksby Village in Peabody for the last 8 years.

Ed was a proud 4^th generation Baker’s Islander, who enjoyed spending time with his family, at the  cottage, or anywhere they happened to be. He always helped whomever he could, especially throughout his masonic career. Ed received the Joseph Warren Nettle Award for meritorious service. He also received the Past Masters 50-year certificate. He enjoyed sailing, boating, helping others, and discussing the days events, with his family, while sitting on the deck.

Family members include his loving sons, James E. Stiles and his wife Cindy and Russell H. Stiles; daughters, Gail K. Morrison and her husband John, Jane M. Colton and her husband Josh, 8 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren; he was predeceased by his sister Ruth M. Buck.

Private Family Funeral services will be held at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Baker’s Island Wharf Co – Pier Project, c/o Treasurer, 19 West Main Street, No 16, Merrimac, MA 01860 www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Gerald  J.  Cronin – 71, of North Reading and formerly of Reading, died on Thursday, September 17, 2020 at the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, after a brief illness.

Born in Ayer, MA on June 6, 1949. He was the son of the late W. Robert and Mayrita (Barry) Cronin. He was a graduate of Austin Preparatory School in 1969 and he received his BA in Sociology from Boston College in 1973.

Gerald worked as a Customer Service Agent for Delta Airlines at Logan Airport for 30 years. He was an avid reader and was a great fan of classic old-time radio, television and movies.

He loved to vacation in Maine with his family. He had a kind and generous nature and a great sense of humor. He has been a resident of North Reading for the past three years.

Family members include his loving brothers, Bob Cronin and his wife Elena of North Reading and Barry Cronin and his wife Karen of San Antonio, Texas; sisters, Kristene Adam and her husband Gabriel of Alpharetta, Georgia, Mayrita (aka “Bebe”) O’Neil and her husband Jim of Aurora, Colorado and the late Elizabeth Chinner and her husband Mark of Nova Scotia, CA. Also survived by eight nieces and nephews.

Interment will be held in Bailey Island Maine in the summer of 2021. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Joslin Diabetes Center at www.josiln.org  Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street in North Reading. www.CroswellFuneralHome.com

Richard Wayne Anderson “Dick” –  age 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at the Sawtelle Hospice House.  He was born on January 28, 1935 in Medford, MA, to William E. Anderson and RoseMary (Gallagher) Anderson.  He was a 1952 graduate of Reading High School in Reading, MA. Following high school, he went on to join the US Navy and returned to Reading, MA to marry his high school sweetheart Virginia (White) Anderson in June 1957.  Dick earned his degree in Electronic Engineering from Lowell Tech (UMass Lowell) in 1960.  He had a very long career in electronics, participating in the development of the MRI, televisions, military devices, and radar systems, receiving patents and awards.  He travelled extensively internationally during his tenure as an engineer and leader of teams, with Japan being a major focus for many years.

Dick woke up every day with incredible energy and sense of purpose.  He was always ready with a smile and he lived his life to the fullest encouraging others to do the same.  He was known for his great sense of humor and for being socially outgoing.  He could easily make a friend standing in line at the bank; he was such an enthusiastic talker.   Always quick to laugh, he loved spending time with friends and family.  Dick was also an avid golfer and was a member of Bear Hill Golf Club and Thomson Country Club for many years in retirement.  Golfing was a true passion of his and he was quite proud of the hole in one he received at Bear Hill in 2006.  He really loved all sports and was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.  One could always count on him enjoying every game with a beer in his hand.  Dick also loved to read and had a keen interest in history and philosophy as well as legal thrillers and spy stories.  Additionally, he had an affinity for music of all genres and enjoyed singing and dancing.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years Virginia “Ginny”; a brother, P. Douglas Anderson and his wife Beverly of North Reading; his son Jeffrey Anderson and his wife Joan of Andover, MA; his son Mark Anderson and his wife Linda of Reading, MA; his daughter Laura (Anderson) Scales and her husband Chad of Atlanta, GA; his daughter Nancy (Anderson) Brown and her husband Kevin of Reading, MA; and his daughter Cheri Anderson of Great Barrington, MA.  He is also survived by 8 much beloved grandchildren: Katie Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Ross Anderson, Curtis Anderson, Natalie Scales, Catherine Scales, Christopher Brown and Allison Brown; as well as many nieces, nephews, and dog friends:  Bella, Kobe, Gracie and Bergeron, and Isabelle the cat.  He was also predeceased by a brother William Anderson and sister Rosemarie Davi.

A memorial Mass will be held on Monday, September 21, 2020, 10:30 AM, at St. Theresa Parish, 63 Winter Street, North Reading, MA  01864. Due to Covid-19, all participants are required to wear a mask at all times.

In lieu of flowers, a donation is welcome to one of the following: The Myelodysplastic Syndrome Foundation: https://www.mds-foundation.org/donate/ Sawtelle Hospice House, Reading, MA: https://vnaofme.com/donate/

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Joan (Rolfe) Crawford- Of North Reading, MA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, at the age of 89.  She was the daughter of the late Frederick W. Rolfe, Jr. and Ariel M. (Decker) Rolfe of Malden & Melrose and sister of the late Edwin D. Rolfe.  Joan grew up in Melrose, MA and graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1948 and Boston University, Class of 1950.  She married her high school sweetheart, the late Charles Whitney (Whit) Crawford, in 1951. They were married 58 years until his death in 2009.  She was the devoted mother of Michael and his wife Carol of Rockport, Richard and his wife Anne of Melrose, the late Steven of North Reading, Brian and his wife Karla of Youngsville, LA, Philip and his wife Ellen of Lynnfield and Susan (Crawford) Standley of North Reading.  Joan was the loving grandmother of 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, with number 9 on the way.  Joan lived in a circa 1750 farmhouse since 1959 that she and Whit had restored, the site of many parties over the years, and lived in North Reading a total of 63 years.

Joan was very active in the community. She was a two-time Past President of North Reading Historical & Antiquarian Society for which she baked many pies for the Apple Festival, she was Past President of the North Reading Garden Club where she participated in garden teas, garden tours and flower shows at the Topsfield Fair and in Boston. She belonged to the Union Congregational Church where she was a Past President of the Monday Club and Chair of the Christmas Faire. She was a member of the North Reading Camp Fire Girls Council and a Cub Scout Den Mother.

Joan loved gardening (but hated weeds!). She also enjoyed rug hooking, rug braiding, repairing antique chair seats and bird watching.  She had twelve bird feeders which attracted a large variety of birds.  She enjoyed watching them and the deer, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, ducks, turkeys, and rabbits that all visited her backyard.

Joan will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in North Reading on September 14, 2020 with family in attendance.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Joan’s memory to either the North Reading Historical Society (https://nreadinghistory.org/) or the North Reading Garden Club (https://northreadinggardenclub.org/ ) . Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com