Trinity Broadcasting's Jan Crouch dies days after stroke

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Televangelist Jan Crouch, who co-founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network with her husband more than four decades ago, died Tuesday just days after she suffered a stroke, her family said on the network's website.

Crouch, instantly recognizable for her mountain of blonde hair, warm smile and long eyelashes, was 78.

Her family made the announcement Tuesday on the California-based Trinity Broadcasting Network's website.

"Viewers of the Trinity Broadcasting Network knew her as someone who partnered with Paul Crouch in the launch and expansion of TBN, and as someone who came into their homes for over 40 years," Matt Crouch, her son and TBN's president, said in a written statement. "To thousands of orphans around the world, and those orphaned in spirit, she was Momma Jan, quick with a smile, a gift, and a word of encouragement."

A spokesman for the network didn't immediately return a phone call.

Jan and Paul Crouch started the network in 1973 by renting air time on an independent California station. Trinity officials say its programming is now carried by over 5,000 television stations. TBN bills itself as the world's largest Christian television network.

Trinity Broadcasting Network owns the religious entertainment complex, Trinity Music City USA, in Hendersonville. It features tours, TV and recording studios, a gift shop and various other attractions. The complex is the former Twitty City that was owned by the late country singer Conway Twitty and purchased by the network for $13 million in 1994.

The network announced last week that Jan Crouch had suffered a stroke in the Orlando area, where TBN owns the Holy Land Experience theme park.

Paul Crouch died in 2013.

A year before his death, The New York Times chronicled the lavish living of Paul and Jan Crouch with ministry money. Their lifestyle, according to the newspaper, included multiples homes, corporate jets and thousand-dollar dinners.

At the time, their attorney said the expenses were used to benefit TBN, which earns money from viewer donations, airtime sales and investments.

Tennessean reporter Holly Meyer contributed to this report.