George Mirl Crosby

WardWilson

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Posted by: WardWilson
Date: Oct 09 2012 12:11 PM

Ward Wilson Memory Hill Funeral Home Cemetery and Crematory

2414 Hartford Highway

Dothan, Alabama 36305

334-792-4194

 

www.wardwilson.com

 

George Mirl Crosby

   Mirl Crosby of Dothan passed away Sunday, October 7, 2012.  He was 94.

   Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 2:00 at Ward Wilson Funeral Home in Dothan with Reverend David Willis officiating.  Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 2:00 pm prior to the service. Burial will follow afterwards at Gardens of Memory Cemetery.

   Mr. Crosby was born November 17, 1917 in Woodville, Florida. He was raised in Tallahassee Florida and graduated from Leon High School. He then attended Lively Business College before entering the newspaper business. He came to Dothan in 1953 as the Dothan Eagle's circulation manager.  He was promoted to business manager and vice president in 1957, executive vice president and general manager in 1963. He was then promoted to publisher-general manager of the Dothan Eagle in June, 1966 holding that position until his retirement in 1977. During the 1960s, while the Pascagoula, Miss. Chronicle and Troy, Al. Messenger were Eagle publications, Crosby was publisher of The Messenger and general manager of the Chronicle.   His newspaper career began as a 12-year old carrier of the Florida Times Union and was interrupted only by a four-and-a-half year stay in the Army during World War II.  His overseas duty was in the Pacific Theater of Operations. 

   Mr. Crosby was a devoted husband to Mary, his wife of 66 years before she passed away in December of 2009. Together they lovingly raised three sons and always remained faithful to their extended family. Mirl and Mary were avid fishermen and cherished their time at their cabin at Lake Seminole. Their faith was evident in the way they helped found Highland Park UMC and later as Mirl delivered tapes of Sunday sermons to those who were ill and visited with them.

   Mr. Crosby was a founding charter member of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dothan, past director of the Crippled Children's Clinic, a past member of the Rotary Club, and has served on the State of Alabama Task Force on Higher Education.  Crosby was a member of the Hall School of Journalism Board of Visitors (Troy State University), and a director of the Alabama Press Association Journalism Foundation. 

Mr. Crosby was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mary Merritt Crosby, parents R.B. and Maggie Crosby, and grandson Kevin Alan Crosby.  Survivors include three sons, Greg Crosby of Anacortes, WA, Glenn (Brenda) Crosby and Steve Crosby (Amy Galletly) of Dothan.  Three grandsons, Jeremy Crosby of Tuscaloosa, Al., Justin Crosby of Brooklyn, NY., and Aaron Crosby of Dothan, two great-grandsons Hastin Crosby and Maxwell Crosby of Tuscaloosa and a special niece Julie Anderson and nephew Glenn Hartsfield of Tallahassee. Flowers will be accepted or donations made to Highland Park United Methodist Church.

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