Darlene Tower, 83, of Parsons died at 2:36 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at her home.
She was born Sept. 25, 1941, at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to James O. and Anna Marie (Spence) Crabtree. She grew up there and graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School.
On Dec. 23, 1961, she married Marvin Darold Tower Jr. at the Falls Baptist Church at Cuyahoga Falls. Darold was a native of Parsons and was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. During his career in the Navy, they were stationed at various places and she was active in the Naval Relief Society. After his retirement, they returned to his hometown of Parsons. Darold preceded her in death on Jan. 20, 2014.
Darlene was a member of the Labette Baptist Church and was involved in many activities of the church. She was a volunteer with the Labette County Red Cross. Her many interests included quilting, sewing, knitting, antiques and archeology. In previous years she was a volunteer with Girl Scouts and Girls In Action/ACTEENS, and when her daughter, Mary, played softball she traveled to every game and was the mom who provided “ambulance” duty if anyone was injured. She was very involved in the lives of her grandchildren.
Surviving is her son, Jonathan M. Tower of rural Oswego; her daughter, Mary Fay (Joseph) of Lexington Park, Maryland; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers Robert Crabtree M.D. (Patricia), James Crabtree (Marjorie), and sister Charlene Poth (Mike), all living in Ohio; a brother-in-law, Dale Tower of Rosalia; and several nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Darold, preceded her in death, as did her parents; a brother, Charles Crabtree; and a sister-in-law, Eva Tower.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Labette Baptist Church with Pastor Tom Heflin officiating. Burial will follow in the Labette City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
The family suggests memorials to the Labette Baptist Church, Proud Animal Lovers Society or Home Town Hospice. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS, 67357. Leave online messages at www.wallfuneralservices. com.
