Richard Crutchfield

Dr. Richard Crutchfield, age 83, born in Charlotte, NC on February 13, 1935 to Charles and Jacquelin Crutchfield, attended The Loomis School (Class of 1953), Washington and Lee University (Class of 1957), Indiana University Bloomington and The University of Texas at Austin (Ph.D in Spanish Language and Literature). He served as a Specialist in the U. S. Army from 1957 to 1960, stationed in Herzogen-Aurach and Coburg, Germany. In 1966, he married Malinda Lobdell, also of Charlotte. The couple had two children, John and Lilian, born in 1971 and 1973 respectively, and they remained married for 20 years. Richard moved to the Asheville area in 1986, where he discovered his life’s work in dowsing, eventually becoming President of the Appalachian Chapter of the American Dowsers Association. There he was known as a great scholar, teacher and mentor. He devoted his life to serving others through ceremonial and spiritual healing work, as well as through teaching and charitable giving. A self-proclaimed “nature boy,” he was an avid hiker and bird-watcher, and he loved tending his bird-feeders wherever he lived. In recent years, he also spent many joyful hours in High Five Coffeehouse, Over Easy Cafe, Homegrown, and other Asheville venues whose young staff he came to consider dear friends. Richard had an innocent heart, a curious and open mind, a gentle and generous spirit, and a profound sense of gratitude for life. He felt his greatest blessing in life was being a father. He died on August 15, 2018, at the Care Partners Solace Center, in the loving presence of his son John Crutchfield and his daughter Lilian Childress. He is survived by them and their spouses, by his sister Leslie Tompkins and her sons David and Aiken and Aiken’s daughter Berenice, by his cousin Ralph, by his grandsons Sebastian and Gabriel, and by his three granddaughters: Polly, Everette and Wren. He will be missed. The family wishes to thank the Care Partners staff and volunteers for their capable and compassionate care during Richard’s last months. Tremendous love and support were also provided by Richard’s closest friends: thank you. A gathering in celebration of Richard’s life will be held for friends and family on Saturday, August 25, at 5pm in the 6th Floor Community Room of the Pioneer Building, 190 Broadway, Asheville, 28801. Charitable donations in Richard’s honor may be made to The Nature Conservancy of North Carolina.

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