Obituaries

Barbara Ann Crume, known lovingly by her family as "YaYa," passed away peacefully on April 19, 2026, of natural causes at her home in Union, Kentucky. She was 90 years old.

Barbara was born on September 12, 1935, in Phoenix, Arizona, to the late Sam Denham Jr. and Bernice Denham. From her earliest years, she carried a curiosity about the world and a spirited determination that would define her entire life.

Smart, loving, feisty, and proud, Barbara had a way of drawing people in and keeping them close.

Barbara dedicated twenty years of her life to being a stay-at-home mother, raising her two children with devotion and care. She later served as the office manager at her husband Ron's dental practice for twenty-five years, bringing her exacting attention to detail and warm personality to every aspect of the work.

Beyond her family and career, Barbara was a true leader in her community. She was a life member of Florence Christian Church, served in the Florence Women's Club including a term as President, participated in the Jaycettes, and maintained over seventy years of membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Barbara had a deep love for history, both her own family's story and the history of the places she called home, including Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Arizona, Hawaii, and North Carolina. She was passionate about geography and maps of all kinds, planning trips in extraordinary detail. She once dreamed of a career in architecture and design, and that creative eye never left her. In the kitchen, she cherished her tried-and-true recipes while never shying away from experimenting with something new. She was a planner and an optimist, always interested and engaged with the world around her, and she always presented herself with style and grace.

Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ron Crume Sr.; her parents; her brother, Bud Denham (Juanita); and her sister, Sherrie Lou Noel (Ron).

She is survived by her daughter, Lou Ann Crume (Hernan Navarro); and her son, Ron Crume Jr. (Kathy); and grandchildren, Anne Madeline Navarro and Kohl Dalton (Gabi); and great-grandchildren, Caraline Dalton, Grayson Dalton and Amelia Dalton. She is also survived by her niece Sally Rowland (Rick); and nephew Brad Denham (Dawn); and great nieces and nephews, Rachel Rowland, Reese Rowland, Jess Denham and Kye Denham.

Barbara's faith in Christ was the foundation of her life, and it is in that abiding hope that her family finds comfort now. They trust she is at peace in the arms of her Lord. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 21, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Triple Crown Country Club in Union, Kentucky.