Phelps Putnam Crump

Phelps Putnam Crump, age 93, passed away Sunday, August 7, 2016, in San Antonio, TX. He was born March 11, 1923, in Pittsford, NY, to Samuel Lee & Ella Mae Crump. He was a loving husband, father, friend and teacher who will be dearly missed.

Growing up, Phelps worked at SG Crump's Sons, the family general store. "The memory of a fair deal and quality merchandise remain long after the price is forgotten." This motto of the "100% Community" store comprises qualities that shaped his life: fairness, quality, integrity, loyalty and community service-- and by extension serving his country.

Blindness in one eye, from a childhood encounter with a firecracker, necessitated a few attempts to volunteer in the Armed Service. Finally, just prior to his 20th birthday, Phelps received orders for duty in the US Army. As Private First Class, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service.

Upon completing his service, Phelps turned his attention to his love of statistics and genetics and received his Bachelor of Science from Iowa State College in 1948. Continuing at North Carolina State University, he was inspired by his professor of Experimental Statistics -- and the lovely Betty Lynn Abernathy. Phelps and Betty were married in 1951; she later typed his thesis and he received his PhD in 1954.

Phelps started his career at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island — a mecca for professionals in the field. In 1959, he moved the family to San Antonio, TX to become a statistician in the Biometrics Division of the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine where he greatly enjoyed the rest of his career. Phelps loved his work and respected and admired his colleagues — and though always modest about his achievement and giving credit to the team, Phelps was thought of as the anchor of this extremely fine group of people. He became chief of the statistics section of the Biometrics Division and also subsequently served as Division head.

He provided invaluable statistical consultation to the study of agent orange effects in Vietnam veterans with the result that approximately 650,000 veterans receive care related to their exposure. Dr. Crump was a member of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and the American Association of Statistics actively participating in these professional organizations and supporting the development of mathematical statistics and statistical practice.

Many a student also benefited from Phelps’ knowledge and endless supply of patience and encouragement. He taught algebra and statistics at San Antonio College and mentored neighborhood children at Windcrest Elementary.

He achieved an exemplary, rare degree of work-life balance. In addition to being a talented statistician and skilled teacher, he made sure his family were well taken care of, felt loved, and supported in every way — including helping form a bond with out-of-state extended family. He was an active member of the Methodist Church and a an inspirational spiritual inquisitor to many. He was also a fine, all-around gardener with an extraordinary talent for raising orchids.

Kind, generous of spirit, and easy to talk to, both he and Betty have been blessed with a wide range of friends. His sense of humor lead to Phelps Putnam being fondly known as "P.P." or "Dr P.P.” He and Betty enjoyed many years of activities such as square dancing, bowling and bridge.

He was preceded in death by his older brother Lee Crump and his younger sister Sally Driessen.

He is survived by his sister Eloise Terho, his brother David Crump, his wife Betty Crump and his daughters, Jean Crump, Carol Crump and Nancy Crump.

Visitation will be 2:00 pm, Friday, August 12, 2016, followed by a 3:00 pm funeral service at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Reception will follow at Windcrest United Methodist Church at 8101 Midcrown.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Alzheimer's Association (at alz.org click the donate button).