Memorial
services for Hulda Crooks, Loma Linda resident and former long-time employee
at Loma Linda University, will be held on Sunday, December 7, 1997, at
3:00 p.m. in the University Church of Seventh-day Adventists. Mrs. Crooks
died peacefully on Sunday, November 22, in her Linda Valley Villa retirement
home. She was 101.
Born on May 19, 1896, in Langenau, Saskatchewan, Canada, Mrs. Crooks was one of 18 children. In 1923, she entered LLU where she earned a certificate in nutrition and dietetics. In 1943, she completed her nutrition degree and graduated with a bachelor of science degree. Memorial services for Hulda Crooks will be held in the University Church of Seventh-day Adventist in Loma Linda on Sunday, December 7, 1997, at 3:00 p.m. Mrs. Crooks, the oldest woman ever to climb Mount Whitney, made a total of 23 trips up the 14,496-foot mountain.
Mrs. Crooks was best known for her mountain climbing. She made her first climb at age 66 (in 1962) when she successfully climbed Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 United States. Fondly known as "Grandma Whitney" among fellow climbers, Mrs. Crooks made a total of 23 successful attempts at climbing Mount Whitney. At the age of 91, Mrs. Crooks successfully climbed the 12,388-foot Mount Fuji--Japan's highest peak--in 1987. She climbed Mount Whitney for the last time later in 1987. In 1991, a peak south of Mount Whitney was named Crooks Peak in her honor and a park in Loma Linda was named for her.
Mrs. Crooks first began hiking in her 40s to combat health problems. A vegetarian since the age of 19, Mrs. Crooks jogged up Mount San Gorgonio in the San Bernardino Mountains in preparation for her climb of Mount Whitney. The last time Mrs. Crooks saw Mount Whitney was in October, 1996, when Drs. George and Jeanne Wiesseman took Mrs. Crooks to Lone Pine so she could ride in a film festival parade. Her motel room had a view of Mount Whitney and Crooks Peak. "She would sit and look at Crooks Peak and say, 'That's my peak,'" Dr. Jeanne Wiesseman recalls.
Her many hiking companions included United States congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), and a multitude of young and old who would climb with her on the almost 11-mile Mount Whitney trail and ask to be photographed with her. In a statement released by Congressman Lewis, he recalled visiting her in October to reminiscence about their climb and return in 1991 by helicopter to one of the camps along the route for the Crooks Peak dedication. "No mountain was ever too high for this gentle giant. With a twinkle in her eye, and purpose in her step, Grandma Whitney showed the world that mental, physical, and spiritual health is attainable at any age," Congressman Lewis said in his statement.
Mrs. Crooks was a research assistant to Mervyn Hardinge, MD, DrPH, PhD, the first dean of the LLU School of Public Health. After she retired, she continued as a volunteer assistant to Dr. Hardinge until she was in her 80s. Mrs. Crooks not only climbed mountains, but was dedicated to hiking and backpacking, which she began at the age of 75. Among her long distance achievements included a descent to the floor of the Grand Canyon, and a beginning-to-end, 212-mile hike of the John Muir Trail, from Yosemite to Mount Whitney, a feat which she accomplished over five summers.
She held eight world records for women over the age of 80 including Senior Olympic events in marathon and road races. In addition she climbed a total of 86 different Southern California peaks, each over 5,000 feet between 1977 and 1983. When Mrs. Crooks spoke about the advantage of a good diet, proper exercise, and a positive mental attitude, she was speaking from experience. It was during a period of poor health while a student at Loma Linda that she changed her lifestyle. During her retirement years, she would give up to a dozen talks a month on health and physical fitness. She would walk up to 100 miles each month to stay in shape.
Mrs. Crooks is survived by three grandchildren, Bruce Couch of Yucaipa,
Tammie Singer of Colorado, and Scott Hoehn of California; and two great-grandchildren,
Patrick and Ariana Couch of Yucaipa.