Dr. William James "Bill" Cron, 82, of Bloomington, died peacefully March 24, 2011, surrounded by family.
He was born Feb. 9, 1929, in Celina, Ohio, to Carl and Edna Cron. In 1951, he married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Smalley, who survives. Their union encompassed 60 wonderful and loving years, truly a match made in heaven.
With his retirement October 2010, he was Bloomington's oldest practicing physician. His mother graduated from I.U. in 1918, and became a nurse at Walter Reed Hospital. Her influence is much of what drove him to become a physician. He graduated from Celina High School in 1947 as a member of the National Honor Society and president of his senior class. He also graduated from Indiana University in 1951; medical school at Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio, in 1955; followed by an internship at Mt. Carmel Hospital in 1956. After that, he spent two years in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Laredo, Texas. In 1959, he and Patricia moved to Warsaw, where he was in a general practice for 10 years. They were again on the move in 1969. He entered a three-year dermatology residency at Indiana University Medical School. They again moved in 1972 to the place they loved, Bloomington, where he opened his dermatology practice. For 38 years, he cared for his patients. He was even known to take a basket of vegetables or a baked good as payment for services rendered. While going through some of his things this week, his daughter found a piece of paper that he had once clipped. A quote from Einstein was displayed upon it, stating, "Try not to be a man of success, but rather to be a man of value." This is the way he lived his life by helping others. He was a member of St. Marks Methodist Church and Beta Theta Pi Fraternity; past chief of staff at Bloomington Hospital; past president of the Monroe County Medical Society; and recently received the Hackney-Norins Award for exemplary contributions to patient care, community welfare, dermatologic education and specialty of dermatology by his friends and colleagues in Hackney-Norins Society at Indiana University.
He loved his family, Bloomington, I.U. sports, his farm, the Cincinnati Reds, mowing, crossword puzzles, collecting unique sweatshirts and his chocolate Labrador Ginger. His was a life of meaning.
Also surviving are his children: Dr. Christopher C. (Rita) Cron, Louisville, Ky.; Catherine C. (and spouse Greg) Hines, Georgetown; Andrew D. (and spouse Tina) Cron, Bloomington, all graduates of Indiana University; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jack.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
Allen Funeral Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials may be made to St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Bloomington Hospital Foundation or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent via www.allenfuneralhome.org
