One of the most generous people West Seattle has ever known is gone. 

Adah Cruzen, whose philanthropy was was well known and a continuation of that her husband Earl Cruzen who passed in 2017, celebrated her 95th birthday last year at her home at Aegis Living in the Admiral District.

Adah was a West Seattleite since moving here from Lafayette, Indiana inthe ‘50’s with her first husband Bob, for his job at Boeing. After he passed, she joined Fauntleroy Church and there she met Willard Rhodes and Earl and Virginia Cruzen. Willard and Adah married in 1975 and over the years Virginia and Adah became best friends. After both Willard and Virginia passed, Earl and Adah were alone for many years before they married on his 80th birthday in 2000. Earl Cruzen was raised in West Seattle and his heart remained here to the end. He was once told “put your money where your mouth is”, and he did. Adah has been carrying out Earl’s wishes to continue to spread the love in West Seattle with many impactful monetary and physical donations. 

Earl's mission to restore the Murals of West Seattle became her mission too and after his passing Adah began donating funds to make that happen as well as donations to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, the West Seattle Senior Center, Fauntleroy Church,  South Seattle College, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and the West Seattle YMCA.

She also contributed to the establishment of a new Welcome to Seattle sign by providing a $100,000 donation for the sign and a sustainable maintenance plan.

In 2019, Adah was named Westsider of the Year by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Funeral services are being handled by Evergreen Washelli.