Pamela
Pamela Crowder Petersen
Pamela Crowder Petersen, born August 20, 1945, in Asheville, North Carolina, departed this life for the next on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at home in Sun Lakes, Arizona, following a 3.5-year tenacious battle with cancer.
Pamela Joyce Crowder Petersen, daughter of William and Mildred Crowder and oldest of four children, spent her formative years in Hendersonville, North Carolina, attending Hendersonville public schools from first grade through ninth grade. Pam enjoyed the many outdoor activities provided by living in the beautiful Blue Ridge of Western Carolina. Hiking, swimming, canoeing, and horseback riding were part of summer activities as she went to summer camp at Glen Arden both as a camper and counselor. Several job-related family moves forced her to miss her 10
th
– 12
th
high school years at Hendersonville High School (HHS) and instead matriculate at Chattanooga High School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she graduated cum laude in 1963. However, Pam always considered herself a member of the HHS Class of 63 (go Bearcats!) and attended their class reunions over the years.
Following high school, Pam attended Memphis State University, Memphis, Tennessee, graduating in August 1967 cum laud earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in literature and journalism. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and remained active through the years eventually serving as president for the Arlington Heights Chapter. Following graduation, Pam taught at Sacred Heart School in Memphis for several years, then at Paducah Tilman High School in Paducah, Kentucky and Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelain, Illinois before starting a 27-year stint at Rolling Meadows High School (RMHS) during which time she earned her M. A. from DePaul in June 1977. It was at RMHS where a certain fellow teacher and soccer coach caught her eye and she and Charles ‘Chuck” Petersen were married December 21, 1974 at St. Hillary Episcopal Mission Church in Wheeling, Illinois. They were married 48 years.
At RMHS, Pam was an English literature and journalism teacher introducing hundreds of students to the wonderful works of Chaucer, Dickens, and Shakespeare as well as modern writers Thomas Wolfe and James Dickey. She also was the staff member for the school paper and taught Humanities for college bound students. Pam and Chuck retired from teaching at RMHS and moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona, a southern suburb of Phoenix, in 2003.
In 1992, Pam and Chuck adopted their first retired racing greyhound. Over the years, they adopted eight dogs and usually had at least two racing retirees sharing their lives for the past 30 years. Pam just loved these regal dogs that she found first in ancient literature (Greek and Roman mythology as well as the Bible).
In retirement, Pam and Chuck traveled to many countries and scenic venues of the world. In Sun Lakes, Pam found an outlet for her creative side in watercolor, pottery, and ceramics. Pam joined Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 2006 and served as chaplain for the Sun Lakes DAR Chapter for four years. She was also active in American Association of University Women, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the Sun Lakes Democrat Club.
Pam was a baptized, confirmed and life-long member of the Episcopal Church. A Burial will be held on November 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at Oakdale Cemetery in Hendersonville, North Carolina. A Memorial Service will also be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Whitney & Murphy Bueler Mortuary, 14 W. Hulet Drive, Chandler, Arizona 85225.
Pam is survived by her husband, Chuck, of the home; brother Craig Crowder (Cathy) of Kiefer, Oklahoma; brother Bill Crowder of Dallas, Texas; sister Lynn Glover (David) of Troy, Tennessee; niece Lauren Autry (Jon) of Nashville, Tennessee; nephew Spencer Crowder (Hillary) of New Jersey; niece Ginny Luptak (Rick) of Libertyville, Illinois; nephew Keith Glover (Kimberly) of Dublin, Ohio; niece Elizabeth Abbott (Brice) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; niece Christina Anderson (James) of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite cancer-related charity or research organization.
Pamela Joyce Crowder Petersen, daughter of William and Mildred Crowder and oldest of four children, spent her formative years in Hendersonville, North Carolina, attending Hendersonville public schools from first grade through ninth grade. Pam enjoyed the many outdoor activities provided by living in the beautiful Blue Ridge of Western Carolina. Hiking, swimming, canoeing, and horseback riding were part of summer activities as she went to summer camp at Glen Arden both as a camper and counselor. Several job-related family moves forced her to miss her 10
th
– 12
th
high school years at Hendersonville High School (HHS) and instead matriculate at Chattanooga High School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she graduated cum laude in 1963. However, Pam always considered herself a member of the HHS Class of 63 (go Bearcats!) and attended their class reunions over the years.
Following high school, Pam attended Memphis State University, Memphis, Tennessee, graduating in August 1967 cum laud earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in literature and journalism. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and remained active through the years eventually serving as president for the Arlington Heights Chapter. Following graduation, Pam taught at Sacred Heart School in Memphis for several years, then at Paducah Tilman High School in Paducah, Kentucky and Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelain, Illinois before starting a 27-year stint at Rolling Meadows High School (RMHS) during which time she earned her M. A. from DePaul in June 1977. It was at RMHS where a certain fellow teacher and soccer coach caught her eye and she and Charles ‘Chuck” Petersen were married December 21, 1974 at St. Hillary Episcopal Mission Church in Wheeling, Illinois. They were married 48 years.
At RMHS, Pam was an English literature and journalism teacher introducing hundreds of students to the wonderful works of Chaucer, Dickens, and Shakespeare as well as modern writers Thomas Wolfe and James Dickey. She also was the staff member for the school paper and taught Humanities for college bound students. Pam and Chuck retired from teaching at RMHS and moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona, a southern suburb of Phoenix, in 2003.
In 1992, Pam and Chuck adopted their first retired racing greyhound. Over the years, they adopted eight dogs and usually had at least two racing retirees sharing their lives for the past 30 years. Pam just loved these regal dogs that she found first in ancient literature (Greek and Roman mythology as well as the Bible).
In retirement, Pam and Chuck traveled to many countries and scenic venues of the world. In Sun Lakes, Pam found an outlet for her creative side in watercolor, pottery, and ceramics. Pam joined Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 2006 and served as chaplain for the Sun Lakes DAR Chapter for four years. She was also active in American Association of University Women, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the Sun Lakes Democrat Club.
Pam was a baptized, confirmed and life-long member of the Episcopal Church. A Burial will be held on November 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at Oakdale Cemetery in Hendersonville, North Carolina. A Memorial Service will also be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Whitney & Murphy Bueler Mortuary, 14 W. Hulet Drive, Chandler, Arizona 85225.
Pam is survived by her husband, Chuck, of the home; brother Craig Crowder (Cathy) of Kiefer, Oklahoma; brother Bill Crowder of Dallas, Texas; sister Lynn Glover (David) of Troy, Tennessee; niece Lauren Autry (Jon) of Nashville, Tennessee; nephew Spencer Crowder (Hillary) of New Jersey; niece Ginny Luptak (Rick) of Libertyville, Illinois; nephew Keith Glover (Kimberly) of Dublin, Ohio; niece Elizabeth Abbott (Brice) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; niece Christina Anderson (James) of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite cancer-related charity or research organization.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Pamela Crowder Petersen, please visit our flower store.
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