Obituary of Dr. Robert Crosby

Dr. George Robert “Bob” Crosby of Ozark died Wednesday morning, September 30, 2020, at his home. He was 81 years old. A memorial service for Dr. Crosby will be held 3:00 P.M. Saturday, October 3, 2020, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home and Cremations in Ozark with Reverend George Merritt and Reverend Dr. Jason Thrower officiating, Holman Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Saturday from 1:30 P.M. until service time. Dr. Crosby was born October 27, 1938 in Enterprise, Alabama to the late Herbert Edward Crosby and Margaret E. Brabham Crosby. He was active in the Boy Scouts where he achieved the Eagle Scout Award and the Silver Beaver Award. He was a graduate of Enterprise High School, Harding University, and Southern College of Optometry. In January of 1965, Dr. Crosby began his optometry practice in Ozark where he was very active in community affairs. He served as President of Dale County Chamber of Commerce, board member of Alabama-Florida Boy Scouts of America Council, was instrumental in the organization of the Flowers Center for Preforming Arts, served three terms on the Alabama Board of Optometry (appointed by three different Governors), served as President of the Alabama Optometry Association, served as President of the Southern Council of Optometry, served as President of the Arts Theatre Society, served on the Board of Vivian B. Adams School in Ozark, served as President of the Ozark Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, served on the Alabama Medicaid Review Committee, and served as Adjunct Professor with the University of Alabama School of Optometry. Dr. Crosby received several service awards including Ozark Man of The Year Award, Alabama Optometry Association Optometrist of The Year Award, and the Presidential Award from the Southern Council of Optometry two times. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter-in-law, Beverly Stevens. Survivors include his wife, Hulene Lunsford Stevens Crosby; four sons, John and Jennifer Crosby, Scott and Melissa Crosby, Blaine and Teresa Stevens, Chris and Kim Stevens; six grandchildren, Clay Crosby, Gwyn Crosby, Mason Stevens (Haley), Tucker Stevens, Harris Stevens and Pierce Stevens; two great granddaughters, Sophie Grace Stevens and Mary Mason Stevens; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Ed and Venita Crosby, Dean and Pam Crosby; one sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Ed Schufflebarger. Several nieces and nephews also survive. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to Vivian B. Adams School, 2047 Stuart Tarter Road, Ozark, Alabama 36360; or to the Christine Adams Scholarship Fund, C/O First United Methodist Church of Ozark, 167 East Broad Street, Ozark, Alabama 36360.