I found the solution on Reddit. It has something to do with OpenSSL and newer generation CPUs.
Follow these steps:

Go to System --> Advanced System Settings --> Environment Variables (You might get to this differently in different versions of Windows)

In THE SECOND window ("System Variables") click NEW

Enter name "OPENSSL_ia32cap"

Enter value "0x200000200000000"

Then click OK

You must REBOOT SYSTEM

This solved the crashing problem I was having with several Oculus VR apps and several Steam VR apps.