Arleen Crusinbery

Arleen Velleda (Hall) Crusinbery died at home on December 12. She was born on November 13, 1922, in Topeka, Kansas. She was the daughter of Herbert and Velleda (Wendell) Hall.

Arleen graduated from Topeka High School. She then studied music at Bethany College and was involved in "The Messiah" performances there.

Arleen worked for the State of Kansas until 1944, when she was introduced to Nolen Crusinbery. She told friends that he was the one she would marry, and on August 17, 1944, they celebrated the start of their new life together.

Following Nolen's Army discharge the new couple moved to Manhattan while he attended K-State. That was their start as life-long Wildcat fans.

As a young mother, Arleen was active in Girl Scouts and the PTA. In later years, she drove school buses for Topeka Head Start and Shawnee Heights School District.

Arleen and Nolen traveled extensively and visited most of the continental United States as well as Canada. They made several trips to St. Louis to watch their favorite baseball team, the Cardinals.

After 57 happy years of marriage, Nolen died in January 2002. Arleen moved to Lawrence in 2005, to live with her daughter.

Arleen is survived by their four children, a son, David Crusinbery, Topeka, and 3 daughters, Kathleen Payne, Berryton, Karen Crusinbery, Lawrence, and Laurie Stanley, Topeka, as well as 8 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Arleen will lie in state after 2:00-5:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 15 at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to TARC, 2701 Randolph, Topeka, 66611; Douglas County Hospice Care, 200 Maine St., Suite D, Lawrence, 66044 or Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St., Lawrence, 66046.