Ronald Alan "Ron" Crowson

World-famous geophysicist, Ronald Alan "Ron" Crowson, 76, passed away Saturday, August 1, 2026.

He was born in Edgecombe County on December 18, 1949, the son of Henry W. "Sam" Crowson and Myrtle Wetmore Crowson.

Ron attended East Carolina University, where he joined the Pirate Nation and particularly loved ECU football. For anyone that met Ron, they knew his love of rocks and science. Ron also never met a stranger, much to the cringe of his daughters. His jokes defined him and his humor was contagious. Ron was a world traveler and wine aficionado. Even with his long battle with leukemia, Ron kept the hospital staff laughing and his spirits high. In his last years, Ron kept busy with his endless projects and dreams. He was never able to build a lighthouse on his land in Sneads Ferry but his legacy to science and his family and friends will live on.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Henry W. "Sam" Crowson; mother, Myrtle Wetmore Crowson Eggers; step-father, Lee K. Eggers; sister, Anne Crowson Beard and her husband, Jack; brothers, Hank Crowson, Sammy Crowson, Johnny Crowson; step-sister, Kathryn Eggers Kennedy; and a brother-in-law, Jeff Dodson.

He is survived by his spouse of 45 years, Renée Crowson of Raleigh; daughters, Kristin White and husband, Jeff of Raleigh, Karen King and husband, Chris of Raleigh; grandchildren, Weston, Campbell, Lachlan, and Maeve; sisters, Mary Katherine Anderson and husband, Ralph of Littleton, CO, Susan Kelly and husband, John of Knightdale, Bonnie Dodson of Sneads Ferry; step-brother, Steven Eggers of Point Lookout, NY; sister-in-law, Barbara Crowson of Richlands, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and a flock of poultry.

The family will receive friends and relatives in the parlors of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home (831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27604) on Thursday, August 6, 2026, beginning at 11:00 AM with words of remembrance planned for 12:00 Noon. Burial will follow in Historic Oakwood Cemetery (701 Oakwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27601).

Flowers are welcome or in lieu, memorial contributions may be made to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society (P.O. 22443, New York, NY 10087-2443).

A service of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com