When the Rev. Russell and Miriam Croucher celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Thursday, no one was happier for them than the staff and students at Eden Grove Academy.

        The Crouchers, now retired, were instrumental in helping the pre-K-8 College Hill school thrive for decades. He was superintendent, general manager of WAKW-FM (93.3) Christian radio station and operations manager. She was principal.

        Their anniversary has given the nondenominational school for Christian students a reason to reflect on their contributions.

Russell and Miriam Croucher of College Hill celebrated their 50th anniversary Thursday. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        “There wasn't any job too small or too big,” said Shirley Hall, the school's bookkeeper. “I've seen Brother Croucher out cleaning the blacktop because somebody dripped oil.”

        And Mrs. Croucher had the ability to defuse tense situations, said the Rev. David Drexler, business manager and assisting principal.

        “You'd see a potential situation with a parent brewing. Mrs. Croucher would always have this wonderful way of working things out and settling the dispute. They'd come in angry and go out with a hug.“

        Students made anniversary cards for the Crouchers to celebrate their dual accomplishments: 50 years of marriage and making Eden Grove Academy what it is today.

        The school opened in 1921 as a boarding school for unwed mothers but evolved into a grade school. Boarding ended about 1976, and today's enrollment is 121 students. They come from throughout the Tristate for the school's strong academics, coupled with a Christian philosophy.

        “They come because we have something they want, and it's wholesome,” Mrs. Croucher said. “I've had parents tell me, "You support what I'm teaching at home.'”

        The Rev. Mr. Croucher attended the school as a boarder. In 1959, he returned with his wife and their four children, ranging from 2 1/4 months to 7 1/4 years.

        Life at Eden Grove was much different then. “Most kids we had were from broken homes and couldn't pay or they'd pay $5 a week. We had our own cows here and grew corn, green beans and tomatoes,” said Mrs. Croucher, who remembers canning 250 half-gallons of tomato juice in one week.

        The Rev. Mr. Croucher started WAKW, which went on the air in 1961 run by volunteers, six hours a day. Today, WAKW broadcasts for 24 hours, manned by a staff of 22. Their son, Jerry Croucher, is now general manager.

        The Crouchers shepherded the construction by volunteers of a three-story brick building, completed in 1976, that includes a chapel, classrooms and the radio station. The school will soon launch a $2 million capital campaign to build a gymnasium and nine classrooms.

        Mrs. Croucher was principal for 37 years, retiring in 1996. Her husband retired in 1987. She still lives in a house on the 32-acre campus. He's at Clovernook Health Care Pavilion, North College Hill.

        The Crouchers were both 27 when they married in Colorado.

        She shook her head at today's high divorce rate.

        “When we got married, you got married for life. You don't think of it any other way.”
       

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