The U.S. Postal Service’s motto is that the mail will always get through.
And Crestwood Village residents knew they could count on their letter carrier to go the extra mile to make sure mail was delivered.
Now Jerry Crouse, 55, is making a career change, he said in an interview at the Crestwood Village Community Center.
More than 200 residents and friends turned out for a party to wish Crouse well after 28 years of delivering mail to the adult community.
“It was the most people that have ever turned out for anything at the community center,” said Tana Lawrence, a nine-year resident of Crestwood Village.
“He would always go out of his way,” Lawrence said. “If it was windy and he thought your mailbox lid might blow open, he would bring the mail to the house. He always had a smile on his face, very friendly.”
Lawrence said Crouse was a gracious, kind and godly man.
Surrounded by residents, Crouse was hugged and told repeatedly how wonderful his service had been.
“This is family,” Crouse said of the residents he had served.
His wife of 32 years, Dee, who works for the National Institutes of Health, was on hand to talk with residents. The couple have two children.
A native of Frederick, Crouse graduated from Frederick High School in 1975. He worked for Moyer Lincoln-Mercury in Frederick in the parts department. Later, he went to work for the Frederick Motor Co.
A friend said the post office had openings and Crouse took the job test.
The U.S. Postal Service hired him two years later. He worked a few months as a clerk, but then spent the rest of his 33 years as a letter carrier.
“I had qualified for retirement from the post office,” Crouse said.
At Crestwood Village he delivered to 600 homes.
A resident of Walkersville, Crouse won’t have too far to get to his new career.
“I’ll be at Glade Valley (golf course),” Crouse said, working with the groundskeeping crew.
Residents wanted him to stay on at Crestwood. Some asked if he could bring the mail on Saturdays if the Postal Service stops deliveries that day. All wished Crouse well on his new career.
“I will miss them,” Crouse said of the Crestwood residents.
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