Lynda Crawford Wentz

lynda wentz

July 1, 1939 ~ May 5, 2020

Born in: Tarboro, NC
Resided in: Arden, NC

Mrs. Lynda Crawford Wentz, 80, of Arden, died Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at her home of almost 47 years.

Lynda Jean was born in Tarboro, NC to the Late Rev. C.E. Crawford, Sr. and Eugenia Rollins Crawford. She married John R. Wentz, III in June of 1962 after completing degrees at Mars Hill College, Wake Forest University, and Appalachian State. She taught Latin and sponsored the Junior Classical League at T.C. Roberson High School for 34 years, beginning the year it opened in August of 1962. John and Lynda were married for 48 years until his death in November, 2010.

She is survived by her four children: Jean Wentz, Jackie Dettmar, John Wentz IV, and Jill Grouse; two sons-in-law Ed Dettmar and Greg Grouse; and six grandchildren: Sydney, Evan, Avery, Juliana, Aaron, and Meredith.

Services will be private.

Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to Four Seasons Hospice online at www.fourseasonsfdn.org.

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  1. Very saddened by the news. She was a real trooper. She loved her children. Amazing lady proud of her family.

  2. My condolences to all of the family.

    Mrs. Wentz was one of my most important teachers at TC Roberson, and JCL was far and away the most important thing I did at TC Roberson. I’m forever grateful for Mrs. Wentz’s teaching and leading. I feel like I can hear her voice in my head even now, more than 35 years later. I’m lucky to have been at TCR with Jean, Jackie and Jay, too. It was fun to be there with two-thirds of the Wentz family.

    May we one day be all together in some joyful eternity. Until then, we must be grateful for memories while sad for loss.

  3. May the memories of the times lived together and a mother’s love bring you comfort, peace, and joy now and the days yet to come. Love never ends.

  4. John, Jackie and family, our deepest sympathies for the loss of your mother. May God comfort you during this time.

  5. Thoughts and prayers to the entire Wentz family. Mrs. Wentz was a gem. She was easily the most influential and beloved teacher for me at TCR. Under her tutelage, I thrived in both Latin class and in the JCL. Her passion as an educator was infectious and she made an ancient language fun while bringing classical culture and literature to life. More importantly, she took me under her wing and provide sound advice and guidance for my future. Her classroom felt like my second home and I was blessed to have this woman as my neighbor, teacher and mentor.
    Jean/Jackie/Jay/Jill – you are in our thoughts and prayers. Know that your mom will be missed by many and lovingly remembered.

  6. Some of my best high school memories are from JCL and Latin class. She was a great teacher! Love and prayers to her familt you were here greatest joys!

  7. May God’s love and peace surround you all. She was one of my favorite teachers. I was also a member of the Latin Club and she always made the club a fun place for us all. Love and Light

  8. She was my Latin teacher and I remember that class so well. She was an excellent teacher. Condolences to her family.

  9. Jean, Jackie, John, Jill: I am heartbroken at this news, and my love and prayers go out to your family. Mrs. Wentz was absolutely one of my favorite teachers at TCR. Her enthusiasm and encouragement during my years of Latin classes and JCL helped me in so many ways, even beyond the walls of the prefab trailer our classes met in. She was one of those rare souls who had a gift for connecting with young people. Everybody loved her so much; I hope you’re feeling that now.

  10. I was so fortunate to have Mrs Wentz as my high school Latin teacher. We learned much more than just a foreign language in that class. As part of the Latin club, I prepared nearly all year for the JCL Conventions, which are still some of my fondest memories of high school. Thank you Mrs Wentz, my lifelong love for Latin inspired my daughters to take it in school also.

    Prayers for the Wentz family. Jean, Jackie, John and Jill — thank you for being our neighbors and sharing your mom with us at TCR.

  11. To the Wentz Family: Mrs. Wentz was a very important of the Roberson , she will be missed. My prayers are all the family…CharlesKoontz

  12. To the Wentz Family: Mrs. Wentz was a very important of the teaching staff of T. C. Roberson High School. My condolences to family.

  13. She was one of my favorite teachers as she taught Latin to me for four years at T.C. Roberson. May she rest in peace and I will always treasure memories of her.

  14. Classmate of Jean’s. And, a Roberson Latin student 1978.
    My sincere condolences.

  15. Mrs. Wentz was one of my favorite teachers at TCR. I thrived in both Latin class and in the JCL. I will never forget the wonderful teaching experiences she had instore for us every day. She will be greatly missed. May she Rest in Peace and forever be in our hearts!

  16. Dear Family,
    I was saddened to learn of your mother’s passing. Although I did not teach with her for a long time at TC Roberson, I grew to love and admire her sweetness of spirit. I shall never forget her.
    Sharon (King) Conner

  17. Mrs. Wentz was one of those rare women who overflows with grace. It was a pleasure and honor to have been in her Latin classes and a part of the JCL. She set the bar high, but helped you jump it. I pray peace and comfort to all her loved ones. Until we meet again….

    For you Mrs. Wentz,
    2 Timothy 4:7 bonum certamen certavi cursum consummavi fidem servavi

    Translation: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith

  18. My heartfelt sympathy goes out the Wentz family. Lynda was so kind to my daughters & me when we moved to Asheville from Buffalo I was privileged to travel with the Latin club for 6yrs & she always amazed me at how much she could do. We were neighbor & friends. I’m the better for having known her. Rip

  19. My condolences to all her kids and family. She was such a kind and patient teacher. Growing up a French student, I had no chance learning Latin. My deceased brother Tripp encourage me to take her Latin class because she was such a fine teacher. With her patience and love my older brother I was able to flourish in her class. She is a true gem! I remember her kind soft-spoken voice with a real laid-back attitude. If my brother Tripp was still alive, he would be heartbroken because she was one of his favorite teachers. She was a great influence on all her students!

  20. My sympathies are with you. Mrs Wentz will be remembered by many grateful students for her contributions at TC Roberson.

  21. Jean, Jackie, Jay and Jill,
    I am heartbroken at the news of your mom. She was of course a good teacher for me, and I enjoyed all of my time in JCL. There are many memories that come to mind: JCL conventions, togas, donut sales, her wonderful guidance when I was JCL president, eating lunch in her trailer, singing Christmas carols in Latin, the list could go on and on; but I would be remiss not to mention my love for your mom outside of school. I appreciated being included in game nights, She was a friend’s fun mom,
    after I returned home from college, I enjoyed conversations with her when we would run into each other at the grocery store, or Target. Your mom was a treasure, and it was a joy and honor to know her. I am glad to know I will see her again one day, in heaven. I will keep all of you in my prayers.May God’s love, peace, and strength bring you comfort.

    P.S. Avery you are a hero. Taking care of your grandmother was a true act of love.

  22. I am so very sorry to hear of Mrs. Wentz’ passing. She was not only an excellent teacher, but a kind, sweet and gracious lady. I had taken several years of French and Spanish, but in my senior year, mindful of my grandmother’s opinion that “you’re not educated unless you can read Latin,” I signed up for Mrs. Wentz’ class. I was ready to be done with high school, and prone to goofing off, but she awoke in me an enthusiasm for Latin, the language and the history. It’s always a joy to be taught by a teacher who has such a deep and profound love for her subject, and such a contagious enthusiasm for it. And she was such a sweet and loving person, and a dear friend of my mother (Joanne Pankow). She was truly a “praeceptrix nobilis.” (noble teacher, I think.)
    My thoughts and prayers for all the Wentz family.

    Requiescat in pace et Lux Perpetua luceat ei. Amen.

  23. I am saddened to hear of Mrs. Wentz’s death. I have very fond memories of her and her Latin classes. She was always upbeat and loved her students. Try as she did, I never got the hang of Latin. My condolences to Jean, who was in my class and a friend, and the whole family.

  24. JCL are my best memories of high school. Ms Wentz was a fantastic teacher that truly cared. My thoughts are with her family as they walk down memory lane while sorting her life.

  25. Mrs Wentz, was a kind caring teacher, always encouraging and nurturing. She was an excellent teacher and her class of Latin helped me in many ways with language and in medicine and law.
    My sincere condolences to family and friends.

  26. Mrs. Wentz played a huge part in my TCR experience and I am grateful to her for it. My prayers go out to her family. I pray that they can find peace in knowing that she touched so many lives in such a positive way.


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