On Friday, January 2023 when John arrived at the pearly gates we are certain God had to move out of the way for Barbara – his girlfriend forever - to get to him first. They had been together and loved each other dearly since they were teenagers at Paris High School in Paris, Il. and for 65 years after that.
John Allen Crum was born on November 16, 1932, in Paris, Il, the oldest Son of Walter and Parilee Crum. He had three ornery brothers – Tom, Phil and Bob – who must have made a pack years ago to not tell stories on one another – as it seemed none ever drank, smoked or cussed…well, Bob maybe. With four boys God knew he had to pick an extra, extra special girl to be their Sister, and that he did! Betty always brought a twinkle to his eye and sometimes an eye roll. He loved them all and their families dearly.
Like many people in Wichita Falls, John served in the USAF at Sheppard Air Force Base. He joined the military after high school and as he would say, “Join the Air Force and see Texas!”. He dreamed of being a pilot and being stationed in cool places like Hawaii. Instead, he began at Lackland AFB in San Antonio and served two tours of duty in Wichita Falls, and one in Laredo, Korea and Istanbul. Like many men involved with war, he did not speak of Korea. Istanbul, on the other hand was a dream come true where he got to travel in Europe, sail the Mediterranean and visit the Holy Land in 1967, 30 days before the Six Day War.
Always we remember people saying if you want something done, “Ask John!”. We wish his wonderful secretary for years, Nadine Thigpen, had written a book on all the things he did while they worked together. They were a pair and got lots done!
After all three of his daughters graduated from college then he went to Wayland Baptist University and got his degree. Proving yet again it is never too late! We were all so proud of him.
John retired as a Master Sargent in the Air Force and went on to have another career at Washex where they made industrial laundry equipment. People thought he and Barbara would move back to Paris, Il, but they had come to love no bitter cold weather in Texas and all three of their girls lived in Texas….they were not going anywhere else!
That being said, they did travel back and forth across the USA in their Chevrolet pickup numerous times, which like Barbara’s purse, was loaded with anything and everything you could possibly need or think of. Barbara hated flying with a passion so John was relegated to four wheels on the ground in a vehicle that today would be called a tiny house. He truly loved driving and making memories with Barbara.
John loved his daughters so much more than words could ever say. Debbie, Denise and Karen were all the apples of his eye….and they all knew it and took advantage frequently. As if he did not love ‘his girls’ enough he was also blessed with three incredible son-in-laws – Tommy, Kevin and Donald – that could do no wrong. Which of course led to fabulous grandchildren – Jason Mrazek (Stephanie), Jennifer Mrazek, Katie Saldi (Zac), Layci Lawler (Ian) and Matthew Stafford . The cherry on top of course was his amazing great-grandchildren – Hazel Mrazek, Emma Lawler, Wilder Mrazek and Rylynn Saldi.
You could never be with John or Barbara and not hear about their ‘girls’ and later the son-in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We all feel like we know restaurant servers all over Wichita Falls from their favorite restaurants. What they may not have realized is that not only did they talk about ‘the girls’ but John and Barbara also talked to all of us about them and we felt we knew them as well.
Our family and others who knew John to be a fabulous wood worker, which he learned from his Dad who did upholstery and carpentry, would ask John to make something for them and he was prone to say, “I will put that on the list for when I get to it”. We all would laugh and one day when you least expected it he would show up with what you asked and it was gorgeous and well worth the wait. He loved working in his shop. It probably kept him from going crazy with four women in the house all the time. If you have one of his pieces, we hope you cherish your treasures as we do ours. If you have one of his beautiful pens we hope each time you write with it, you smile. John was also a fabulous photographer and a prolific one if you could see all his photos in his dark room. It has been a joy the past few days going back thru all of them and reliving many fond memories.
Our love and gratitude to the wonderful people at House of Hope and Hospice of Wichita Falls for the amazing care, kindness and love they showed John….and Barbara before him and his family. The past six years would have been unimaginable without each and every one of them.
John Crum was a man who was loved and cherished by many. His memory will be a blessing to each and every one of us. Even though he may not have been in Church every Sunday except when he worked in the Church in the Air Force, he was a man of very strong faith and he lived it every day. We will all be with him and his beloved, Barbara, again one day but for now we are left to cherish the memories he created for us.
Visitation will be held at 1:00 PM Thursday, January 26, 2023, at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home Chapel with the Funeral Service following at 2:00 PM. Internment will be in Hampton Vaughan Crestview Memorial Park. www.HamptonVaughanCrestview.com
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls. www.howf.org 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, TX 76310
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hamptonvaughancrestview.com for the Crum family.
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