What happened to Robert Lee Crutchfield?

This is a question that I have been asking for at least seven years now, and never received a straight answer.  Whenever I asked, the answer I’d always gotten was, “it was a very sad time,” but no one would ever go into further detail to share WHY it was a very sad time.  A few days ago, I found out why.

Detroit Free Press, 08 Mar 1974, p. 49

I had a feeling his death was tragic because living family members that remember these events ignore the opportunity to say more.  Everything about it felt so hush-hush.  Even down to his funeral program.  It’s two barely-there pages.  Just enough to say that he was born, had children, died and left a mother and siblings behind.  There was no grand life story written for Robert Lee Crutchfield, nor mention of where his remains are interred.  Were there shameful circumstances surrounding his death?

Project Roots: Tillman – 1920 U.S. Federal Census

1920 U.S. Federal Census – Georgia, Jones, Whites, District 0130
Sheet No. 3B – Enumerated on 6 February 1920
Farm

Tillman – 1920 U.S. Federal Census

My great-grandfather, Rev. Rufus J. Tillman, Sr, was recorded as 27 years of age of the 1920 census.  This is incorrect.  He was born on the 10th of January in 1897.  On the date of enumeration, he would have been 23 years of age.

Project Roots: Tillman – 1930 U.S. Federal Census

1930 U.S. Federal Census – Georgia, Walton, Mountain, Militia District 454
Sheet No. 3B – Enumerated on 8 April 1930
Cap Jackson Road, Enumeration District 0018

Tillman – 1930 U.S. Federal Census

Note: Line #80 is bolded because the documented information is incorrect.  Merrell Tillman should have been documented as Daughter and Female.  However, since Merrell is considered a masculine name, the enumerator likely assumed that Merrell Tillman’s gender was male.

Project Roots: Tillman – 1940 U.S. Federal Census

1940 U.S. Federal Census – Georgia, Walton, Mountain, District 147-19
Sheet No. 8B – Enumerated on 13 May 1940

Tillman – 1940 U.S. Federal Census