Ronald Lee Crouch

Ronald Lee Crouch, 78, of New Bern, NC peacefully passed away at his home on Saturday,
September 12, 2026, surrounded by his wife Kit, his daughters Jinni and Alexa, and his son
Carter.

Ron was born on April 11, 1948, in Alexandria, Virginia. He was predeceased by his late parents Bea and Carter Crouch and survived by his three children Jinni Forcucci (DJ Forcucci), Alexa
Fausey (Bob Fausey), Carter Crouch (Dhadha Crouch); six grandchildren Ryan Budnik, Grant
Budnik, Finn Forcucci, Cooper Forcucci, Flora Crouch, and Padma Crouch; as well as his
brother Doug Crouch and nephew Derek Crouch.

Ron enlisted in the United States Coast Guard from 1967-1971, and after serving four years, he met his wife, who remained by his side for 56 years. Together, they began their family and raised their three children in Delaware. Pursuing his education at Delaware State University, Ron received a degree in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and devoted over twenty years to agricultural research at DSU.

Ron continued his professional passion for the outdoors with the Delaware State Park system
where he worked as a Park Administrator at Wilmington State Parks. Ron dedicated a number
of years to tirelessly cultivating and supporting a positive and respectful environment alongside
the colleagues he so adored. His co-workers were his second family, and spending time with them at the cabin in the mountains of Pennsylvania afforded time to stoke fires, cook family meals and belly laugh into the night. He took great care in preserving the natural resources of Delaware’s State Parks so that everyone in the First State could enjoy their beauty. After a celebrated career, Ron retired in 2010.

When he wasn’t working, his off-hours uniform consisted of a deep tan, baggy cargos and
well-worn flip flops, and you could often find him captaining his center console across bays,
marshes and rivers on his eternal search for fish. But for Ron, fishing was often less about
hooking a monster keeper and much more about the company and camaraderie that he found
on the water.

As a young man, Ron embraced a worldview that reflected empathy, kindness, joy and a love of
humanity. He was a steadfast believer in equality and spent his life living up to those ideals,
even when it wasn’t the easiest path to take.
A son of the 60s and 70s, Ron was a lifelong lover of music, and he took great pride in his extensive collection. From John Lennon to John Prine and The Traveling Willburys to Credence Clearwater Revival, Ron’s CD player was rarely ever silent. But, among the thousands of CDs that made up his archives, the Eagles, Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones topped his list.

Ron’s legendary mustache was as wide as the hull of his fishing boat, and the laugh that boomed out from beneath it welcomed people in and put them at ease. He was always ready with a sincere sentiment or a corny joke, and he could kill an entire afternoon swapping stories with the best of ‘em. It must be noted that Ron was also a consummate rule follower - a trait that proved frustrating when trying to sneak one extra grandchild onto his boat, but proved endearing when his honesty kept him from ever telling a fictional “Fish Tale” back at the dock.

With all of Ron’s accolades and accomplishments, his greatest joy came from his children and his grandchildren. Whether tossing a football, playing badminton, casting a line, or pulling them behind his boat on an innertube, Ron loved to bring joy to his kids and grandkids, and he swelled with pride at the mere mention of their names as he gushed over their achievements to anyone who might listen.

During his 78 years of making this world a better place, Ron fished hard, laughed loudly, and
cried easily. Ronald Lee Crouch was a man with seawater in his veins, rock music in his soul
and the love for his family in his heart. He will be so very missed by all who had the good fortune of calling him husband, father, grandfather and friend.

Bennett Funeral & Cremation Care is honored to serve the family and friends of Ronald Crouch.