Genevieve Idell (Crawford) Starcher

Genevieve Idell (Crawford) Starcher died unexpectedly on October 4, 2023. She was born at home in Akron, Ohio on Halloween night in 1930 to Frank and Rose (Nestor) Crawford. According to a favorite family story, she was born at home because neighborhood kids deflated the tires and prevented them from getting to the hospital.

Genevieve attended Mason Elementary, Central High School, and the University of Akron, where she was a member of the Theta Upsilon sorority and also met her future husband Hal. They were married November 9, 1950 and honeymooned in Chicago. Her first job was as secretary to a private detective who used the first Polygraph in Akron. Genny then became a full time homemaker to her three daughters, enjoying family activities and being co-leader for Girl Scout Troop 771. Her second job was at the downtown O’Neils where she made many long lasting friends. She loved telling us of her funny experiences there, including falling into a pillow bin. After retiring from Macy’s, she enjoyed sleepovers with her grandchildren which included food court dinners and breakfasts of Krispy Kremes or McDonald’s, watching movies and playing mini golf. She became an enthusiastic supporter of their soccer games, swim meets and marching band performances. Genny loved any excuse to dine out, hiking with her family and dogs in the Summit Metro Parks, gardening and tackling jigsaw puzzles. Her joyful enthusiasm for travel led to many vacations visiting relatives in West Virginia and enjoying the beauty of the East Coast Beaches, and the national parks of the United States and Canada. Accompanied by her, any vacation was definitely more fun!

Genny was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Delphine Wise. She is survived by her husband Harold B. Starcher, her brother Frank, and her daughters, Sheri (Jim Wurster), Patricia (Tim Brown), and Tracy (Daniel Hahe). She is also survived by her grandchildren Kara Penney, Erin (Adam) Greenberg, Patrick (Ashley) Hahe and Allie Hahe (Susie Yi) and her great-grandchildren Simon and Gretchen Penney and devoted dog Tiger.

Genevieve requested that there be no services.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N Miller Road Akron, OH  44333.