Edith B. Crowley, 79, of Geneva, died Tuesday, March 28, in her home. Born in South Orange, N.J., Mrs. Crowley, along with her husband, owned and operated Viking Tension Products, a fastener company in Eaton Town, N.J. Mrs. Crowley kept the financial records for the business. “Her checking account was always balanced to the penny,” said her daughter, Leigh. “She had never been trained to be a bookkeeper, but the work suited her perfectly.” Mrs. Crowley and her husband, John, started the company, which manufactured fasteners that keep together items ranging from cars to farm machinery, in the 1970s. “They loved being self-employed,” said Leigh Crowley Tracey. “They worked side-by-side.” Mrs. Crowley and her husband ran the business until John Crowley’s death in the early 1980s. At that time, the business was sold. After her retirement from the business, Mrs. Crowley was living in New Jersey, but bought another home in Geneva so that she could spend time there with her grandchildren. She later lived in Geneva year-round. In addition, Mrs. Crowley became extremely computer-literate and ordered items including books and groceries on-line. She also maintained her friendships with the help of computers. “It let her keep in touch with all her relatives and friends in New Jersey,” said her daughter. “She would instant-message them and e-mail them.” Mrs. Crowley also enjoyed completing volunteer work, including volunteering her time in libraries. “She also was a voracious reader,” said Leigh Crowley Tracey. Other survivors include a son, John; a sister, Ruth Poe; a brother, Leon Barkhorn; three grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Services will be in New Jersey.
