Adah Virginia (Held) Crabbe (1912 - 2004)

Born 16 Dec 1912 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA

Wife of Clarence Linden Crabbe II — married 13 Apr 1933 in Yuma, Arizona, United States

Died 26 Aug 2004 at age 91 in Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA

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Biography

Adah Virginia Held Crabbe was the wife of Olympic champion and actor Buster Crabbe.

She was born 16 December 1912 in Los Angeles, the daughter of Anthony Held and Emma Thompson.^[1] Her father was a film editor. She graduated from Marlborough School for Girls, attended UCLA and was a life long member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.

She married Buster Crabbe 13 April 1933 in Yuma, Arizona. They were the parents of three children. "Adah Virginia Held, 20, of Beverly Hills, Cal., and Clarence L. (Buster) Crabbe, Olympic swimming champion and screen actor, were married at Yuma, Ariz., recently after a romance of more than a year. Crabbe is a contract player for a major Hollywood studio. His bride is the daughter of Thomas Held, film editor."^[2]

She died 26 August 2004 in Scottsdale, Arizona.^[3] Her ashes were scattered in Hawaii, as were her husband's.^[4]

Obituary:^[5]

Adah Virginia Held Crabbe, born Los Angeles; December 16, 1912, Died Scottsdale, Arizona; August 26, 2004.

Virginia died peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family. A longtime Scottsdale resident, she was involved in many community activities: Docent for the Phoenix Art Museum, Active member of the Sustainers of the Junior League of Phoenix, The Scottsdale Boys and Girls Club, "Les Girls", and the Sewing Club.

She grew up in Los Angeles, graduated from Marlborough School for Girls, attended UCLA and was a life long member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She met the love of her life: the legendary Clarence Linden "Buster" Crabbe in Honolulu. They began their 50 year marriage in Yuma, Arizona on April 13, 1933. The local newspaper headlines read "Tarzan Takes His Jane." They had three children: the late Caren Lynn "Sande" Crabbe, Susan Ann Crabbe Fletcher (Mrs. William C.) of Orcas Island, Washington and Cullen Held "Cuffy" Crabbe (Suellen) of Scottsdale.

She lived with her family in both Paris and Italy. Her passion for travel led her to ride elephants in India, cross Europe on the trans Siberian railroad, sail down the Nile and cruise thru Southeast Asia. She was planning a new adventure to Idaho shortly before she died. She donated many hours to many charitable organizations often using her incredible sewing skills to earn funds for special projects. She loved her family, friends, dog, cat, home and garden. She will be sorely missed and her gracious style will long be remembered.

Sources

1. ↑ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGN7-79Z : 27 November 2014), Ada V Held, 16 Dec 1912; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
2. ↑ California Girl Bride of Olympic Swimming Champ and Film Actor, Dallas Morning News, Saturday, Apr 22, 1933, Dallas, TX, Page: One.
3. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JT8T-DMN : 19 May 2014), Virginia H Crabbe, 26 Aug 2004; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
4. ↑ Adah Virginia Held Crabbe (1912-2004) on Find A Grave: Memorial #9418250 retrieved 11 April 2019
5. ↑ Adah Virginia Held Crabbe Obituary on Legacy.com.