Cromes Edwards Funeral Home

Shown here at the funeral home are, seated, Ralph and Gary Cromes, and standing, left to right, Erik Edwards, Norris Cromes and Aaron Edwards. The Cromes brothers have sold the business to the Edwards brothers. Melanie Speicher Sidney Daily News Walter Short, whose sister Carrie Short married Ralph V. Cromes, is pictured with his children, left to right, Janet and Tom, and his nephews Norris and Lloyd Cromes. Aaron Edwards’s wife, the former Kelly Short, is the great-great-niece of Ralph V. and Carrie Cromes. Courtesy photo SIDNEY — The Cromes family torch is now in the hands of another local family.Cromes Funeral Home, which was established in 1939 by Ralph V. Cromes, is now owned by brothers Aaron and Erik Edwards, both of Sidney. They purchased the business from Ralph V. Cromes’s grandsons, Gary and Ralph Cromes. The first day of ownership for the Edwards brothers was Sept. 1.The decision to sell the funeral home was something Gary and Ralph had thought about over the years.“We wanted it to be our family passing the torch to another family,” said Gary. “We’re not leaving the funeral home. We want to do what our dads did. We’re going to help Aaron and Erik for years to come.“This has been our life and we can’t walk away from it,” said Gary. “People still expect us to be here and we will be. We’re only a phone call away … but I won’t have to shovel snow anymore.“A lot of people don’t know this, but Aaron and Erik have been handling everything for the past three years,” he said.The Cromes family was originally from the Houston, Ohio, area. Ralph V. Cromes went to college in Columbus, Ohio, where there was a mortuary school.“I remember being 2 or 3 years old and Lloyd was 1 1/2 years older,” said Norris, “and I remember us living on the main road in Columbus. We’d hear sirens all the time.”Once Ralph V. graduated, the family moved to St. Paris where he worked for the Burt Richardson Funeral Home.“I started grade school at St. Paris,” said Norris.The family moved to Sidney, where Ralph V. worked for another funeral ... (Sidney Daily News (subscription))

Sunday, March 19, 2017 while at The Arthur Home. Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church, 311 Seventh Street in Charleston. Services honoring and celebrating his life will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church with Reverend Matthew Froeschle officiating. The Committal Service and burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Graceland Cemetery in Albion, IL. It is requested that thoughtful donations in his honor be made to the Charleston First Presbyterian Church. Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or services or mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.Richard was born January 1, 1941 in Albion, Illinois, the son of Alan and Ella (Jennings) Crome. He married Sue Walker in August of 1965 and together they have three children: Philip Crome (Julie) of Elizabeth, IL, Aaron Crome (Mary) of Marshall, Illinois and Sara Jones of Champaign, Illinois. Richard is also survived by an adopted son, Jaime Ortiz (Jasmine) of Hawaii, a sister, Ruth Ann Michels of Mohill, North Dakota, a sister-in-law, Mrs. Keith (Helen) Crome of Albion; 7 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; nieces and nephews, and a host of close friends. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his stepmother, Delphia Crome; two brothers, George and Wayne “Keith” Crome; and twin sisters, Eva Stevens and Evelyn Harlow.Richard was a graduate of Edwards County High School in Albion and furthered his education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where he received his Bachelors degree in language studies. He later earned a Master’s Degree from Eastern Illinois University. Mr. Crome began his teaching career at Lawrenceville High School and went on to teach at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, IL. He then accepted a teaching position with Eastern Illinois University where he was a language professor for more than 20 years.Richard possessed an avid love for raising sheep which began at the age... (Journal Gazette and Times-Courier)