Obituary for Rev. Raymond G. Crosser
Reverend Raymond G. Crosser, 90, Altoona died Wednesday morning July 22, 2020 at Garvey Manor, Hollidaysburg.
The oldest of five children, Fr. Crosser was born on April 7, 1930 in Bellwood, son of the late Raymond C. “Butch” and Beatrice V. (Flynn) Crosser.
Surviving are three sisters, Kathleen Crosser Murray, married to Terry Murray, III of Johnstown, Constance Crosser Matuschek of Aurora, Colorado, and Joan Edith Crosser of White Plains, New York; and a brother, Jeremiah “Jerry”, married to Donna Rickabaugh, of York; nieces and nephews, Terrence Murray, III married to Melissa Brendle, Michael Murray, married to Pam Petrilla, Rebecca (Murray) Humphreys, married to Ray Humphreys, Sue Ann (Murray) Sobert, married to Paul Sobert, John Murray, married to Angela Ledbetter, Raymond Murray, married to Amy Pucharich, Mary (Matuschek) Riddle, married to Art Riddle, Robert Matuschek, married to Bridget McShane, Jennifer Matuschek, Beth (Crosser) Hagen, married to Jeffrey Hagen, Jennifer (Crosser) Lee, Amy (Crosser) Hitz, married to Todd Hitz, and Karen (Crosser) Graybill, married to Andy Graybill; grand nieces and nephews, Katie (Murray) Muller, married to Russell Muller, Patrick Murray, Jonathan Murray, Aaron Humphreys, married to Samantha Halstead, Ashton Humphreys, Craig Humphreys, Brandon Humphreys, Selene Sobert, Andre Sobert, Casey Murray, Courtney Murray, Kyle Murray, Olivia Murray, Abigail Murray, Sean Murray, Aiden Murray, Graham Riddle, Jeremiah Riddle, Quinn Matuschek, Josephine Matuschek, Shane Hagen, Ryan Hagen, Sarah Hagen, Madeline Lee, Jared Lee, Jeremiah Hitz, Elena Graybill, Lilly Graybill and Jonathan Graybill; and many great grand nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother in law, Robert Matuschek.
Fr. Crosser attended Bellwood-Antis Elementary and Middle School and in 1948, he graduated from Altoona Catholic High School. He attended St. Vincent College and Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood, May 26, 1956 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona by Bishop Richard T. Guilfoyle. Father celebrated his First Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, Bellwood on May 27, 1956, his home Parish. He had the distinction of being the only native priest from that Parish.
He served as an associate pastor at St. Patrick Parish, Newry and St. Anne Parish, Claysburg (1956-1958), Immaculate Conception Parish, Lock Haven (1958-1961), St. Benedict’s Parish, Johnstown (1961-1966), and Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, Johnstown (1966). He was assigned his first pastorate in St. Agnes Parish, Beaverdale (1966-1972) then St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Bedford (1972-1989), St. Michael Parish, Hollidaysburg (1989-1991), St. Edward Parish, Barnesboro and Precious Blood, Emeigh (1991-1992), Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Altoona (1992-1995), and St. Thomas More Parish, Roaring Spring and Chapel, Claysburg (1995-1996).
He was elected twice to the Diocesan Presbyterial Council and was a Diocesan Consultor during his second term. He also served one term on the Diocesan Finance Council.
Following his retirement in 1996, Fr. Crosser assisted in St. Thomas Parish, Bedford, beginning in 2000 and was then named the Administrator of the Parish from December 2002 until July 2003. He also served as an interim in St. Stephen Parish, McConnellsburg, St. Mary Parish, Altoona, St. Mary Parish, Hollidaysburg, Our Lady Queen of Archangels Parishes in Clarence/Snow Shoe and St. Aloysius Parish, Cresson. He also filled in on weekends at several Parishes in the Diocese.
He was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, Bishop Garvey Assembly No. 916. He was the Charter Chaplain and helped name the Star of the Sea Council, Knights of Columbus, Hollidaysburg. Fr. Crosser was founding Pastor and Charter Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Altoona and Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Lock Haven, Bedford and Barnesboro.
He had served as Chaplain to the Bishop Guilfoyle High School football team beginning in 2004 under coach Marty Georgiana and Bishop Guilfoyle’s boys’ basketball team starting in 2001 under coaches, Terry Sullivan, Tom McConnell, Josh Baker and Dave Benton. On July 1, 2008, he was named by Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School as the official Chaplain of all varsity athletics. In April of 2010, he was inducted into the Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School “Ring of Honor” and was also appointed to the Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic Athletic Advisor Board Committee.
Friends will be received from 2 to 7pm, Monday, July 27, 2020 and 9 to 10:45am, Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bellwood. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am, Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bellwood, with Bishop Mark L. Bartchak, celebrant. Committal rites will be at Logan Valley Cemetery, Bellwood
The oldest of five children, Fr. Crosser was born on April 7, 1930 in Bellwood, son of the late Raymond C. “Butch” and Beatrice V. (Flynn) Crosser.
Surviving are three sisters, Kathleen Crosser Murray, married to Terry Murray, III of Johnstown, Constance Crosser Matuschek of Aurora, Colorado, and Joan Edith Crosser of White Plains, New York; and a brother, Jeremiah “Jerry”, married to Donna Rickabaugh, of York; nieces and nephews, Terrence Murray, III married to Melissa Brendle, Michael Murray, married to Pam Petrilla, Rebecca (Murray) Humphreys, married to Ray Humphreys, Sue Ann (Murray) Sobert, married to Paul Sobert, John Murray, married to Angela Ledbetter, Raymond Murray, married to Amy Pucharich, Mary (Matuschek) Riddle, married to Art Riddle, Robert Matuschek, married to Bridget McShane, Jennifer Matuschek, Beth (Crosser) Hagen, married to Jeffrey Hagen, Jennifer (Crosser) Lee, Amy (Crosser) Hitz, married to Todd Hitz, and Karen (Crosser) Graybill, married to Andy Graybill; grand nieces and nephews, Katie (Murray) Muller, married to Russell Muller, Patrick Murray, Jonathan Murray, Aaron Humphreys, married to Samantha Halstead, Ashton Humphreys, Craig Humphreys, Brandon Humphreys, Selene Sobert, Andre Sobert, Casey Murray, Courtney Murray, Kyle Murray, Olivia Murray, Abigail Murray, Sean Murray, Aiden Murray, Graham Riddle, Jeremiah Riddle, Quinn Matuschek, Josephine Matuschek, Shane Hagen, Ryan Hagen, Sarah Hagen, Madeline Lee, Jared Lee, Jeremiah Hitz, Elena Graybill, Lilly Graybill and Jonathan Graybill; and many great grand nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother in law, Robert Matuschek.
Fr. Crosser attended Bellwood-Antis Elementary and Middle School and in 1948, he graduated from Altoona Catholic High School. He attended St. Vincent College and Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood, May 26, 1956 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona by Bishop Richard T. Guilfoyle. Father celebrated his First Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, Bellwood on May 27, 1956, his home Parish. He had the distinction of being the only native priest from that Parish.
He served as an associate pastor at St. Patrick Parish, Newry and St. Anne Parish, Claysburg (1956-1958), Immaculate Conception Parish, Lock Haven (1958-1961), St. Benedict’s Parish, Johnstown (1961-1966), and Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, Johnstown (1966). He was assigned his first pastorate in St. Agnes Parish, Beaverdale (1966-1972) then St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Bedford (1972-1989), St. Michael Parish, Hollidaysburg (1989-1991), St. Edward Parish, Barnesboro and Precious Blood, Emeigh (1991-1992), Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Altoona (1992-1995), and St. Thomas More Parish, Roaring Spring and Chapel, Claysburg (1995-1996).
He was elected twice to the Diocesan Presbyterial Council and was a Diocesan Consultor during his second term. He also served one term on the Diocesan Finance Council.
Following his retirement in 1996, Fr. Crosser assisted in St. Thomas Parish, Bedford, beginning in 2000 and was then named the Administrator of the Parish from December 2002 until July 2003. He also served as an interim in St. Stephen Parish, McConnellsburg, St. Mary Parish, Altoona, St. Mary Parish, Hollidaysburg, Our Lady Queen of Archangels Parishes in Clarence/Snow Shoe and St. Aloysius Parish, Cresson. He also filled in on weekends at several Parishes in the Diocese.
He was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, Bishop Garvey Assembly No. 916. He was the Charter Chaplain and helped name the Star of the Sea Council, Knights of Columbus, Hollidaysburg. Fr. Crosser was founding Pastor and Charter Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Altoona and Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Lock Haven, Bedford and Barnesboro.
He had served as Chaplain to the Bishop Guilfoyle High School football team beginning in 2004 under coach Marty Georgiana and Bishop Guilfoyle’s boys’ basketball team starting in 2001 under coaches, Terry Sullivan, Tom McConnell, Josh Baker and Dave Benton. On July 1, 2008, he was named by Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School as the official Chaplain of all varsity athletics. In April of 2010, he was inducted into the Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School “Ring of Honor” and was also appointed to the Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic Athletic Advisor Board Committee.
Friends will be received from 2 to 7pm, Monday, July 27, 2020 and 9 to 10:45am, Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bellwood. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am, Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bellwood, with Bishop Mark L. Bartchak, celebrant. Committal rites will be at Logan Valley Cemetery, Bellwood