Rowene McCray Kroesen

Rowene Wilder McCray Kroesen passed from this life on June 29, 2026, at her home in Alexandria VA.

Born on December 5, 1924, in Rochester NY to Charles Holliday McCray and Virginia Wilder McCray, she spent her childhood there before moving every few years with her Army Air Corps WWI veteran father. Her father also served in WWII in England. In a 1942 letter he wrote, “I’m not worrying a bit about Rowe. She has a level head on her shoulders.”

Rowene graduated from Trenton High in 1942, followed by attending Penn State University. It was in high school where she and her future husband, Frederick James Kroesen (Fritz) met and fell in love. Fritz attended Rutgers University and joined the ROTC. In 1944 they married in March before his deployment to fight the Nazis. Rowe returned home to Burlington NJ and joined the Volunteer Women of America as an ambulance driver at Fort Dix for the duration of the war. In 1946 she was among the first family members permitted to join their spouses in the post-war occupation of Germany. This began her 40-year journey with the US Army as she and Fritz decided to stay in the Army after the war. Rowene was a consummate Army wife, raising three children, volunteering as a Red Cross Gray Lady in hospitals and clinics, answering Hotlines for Suicide Prevention, joining and leading Army wives groups at each of their 40 different postings around the US and the world. In addition, she was an avid golfer, bridge player, a talented painter, and a dedicated member of each parish where they were posted. She suffered four wartime separations from Fritz: WWll, Korea/Japan, and two deployments in Vietnam. Her faith and her family sustained her until, thankfully, he came home each time.  They retired in 1983, and moved to Northern Virginia. Rowe became an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also was an Arlington Lady at the Arlington National Cemetery, and an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae.

She is survived by her two daughters, Karen Kroesen Klare of Atlanta GA, and Gretchen Kroesen Tackaberry of Springfield VA, and her son, Frederick J. Kroesen lll of Fort Hunt, VA; her brother Douglas Wilder McCray of Southampton NJ; her sister Janice McCray Kreiner preceded her in death. She had ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at the Basilica of St. Mary Catholic Church, 310 S Royal Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.

Following the service, a gathering of friends and family will be held in the River Room at Porto Vecchio, 1250 S. Washington St., Alexandria, Va. 22314 between Noon and 2 PM. Please carpool if possible.

Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.