Lucille Cronkite

Lucille M. Cronkite, age 91, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away on Tuesday evening, September 19, 2017 at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, February 9, 1926, the only child of the late Rodney and Marion (Varkalis) Longdon. Lucille moved to Bloomingdale, MI during her teen years with her mother and stepfather and graduated from Bloomingdale High School. Following high school she moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan and worked at the Upjohn Company, while living at the YWCA. It was in Kalamazoo that she met the love of her life, Neal Richard Cronkite, newly returned from WWII Naval Service. Lucille and Neal were united in marriage at the Kalamazoo Civic Theater on May 3, 1947. They were blessed to spend 70 anniversaries together. In addition to Upjohn, Lucille was employed by the Kalamazoo Public Schools, working at Arcadia and King-Westwood Elementary Schools, in food service. She is survived by her husband: Neal; five children: David (Karen) Cronkite of Tinley Park, IL, Steven (Deb) Cronkite of Kalamazoo, Rick (Sharon Pontius) Cronkite of Kalamazoo, Rodney (Wendy Cronkite-Ross) of Burlington, WI, and Christie Cronkite-Sherson, of Grand Rapids, MI; seven grandchildren: Keri (Kevin) Bottom of Tinley Park, IL, Kelli (Dan) Rusnak of Orland Park, IL, Neal (Jennifer) Cronkite of Lansing, MI, Gregory (Kelley) Cronkite of Whitefish Bay, WI, Tyler (Julia) Cronkite of Rifle, CO, Cameron Cronkite of Chicago, IL and Sierra Cronkite of Milwaukee, WI; and nine great-grandchildren. A special thanks to the staff at Rose Arbor for the thoughtful and loving care provided to Lucille and her family. Honoring her wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, Sept. 25, at St. Andrew Community Church, 3631 Covington Road, where friends may visit with the family from 11:00 AM until the time of service. Rev. James Dyke will officiate. Private family interment will be in Grand Prairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Andrew Community Church or Rose Arbor Hospice Residence. Arrangements were entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes.