Kenneth Gordon Crabtree

Reverend Kenneth Gordon Crabtree was born in the small town of Socorro, New Mexico, on July 23rd, 1938. He spent his early years in New Mexico until his family relocated to Durango, Colorado in the 1940s, following the end of World War II. He loved his church in Durango, and his involvement in the youth group there played a meaningful role in his call to ministry.

After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and later earned his divinity degree from Yale University. As part of his graduate studies, he spent a formative year in Scotland—a time that deepened his lifelong connection to the Presbyterian Church.

Following seminary, Ken served congregations in Pennsylvania and New York. But with his family having moved to California, he soon began seeking opportunities closer to home. He answered a call to serve at Corcoran Presbyterian Church, near his parents in Fresno, and made the cross-country move. In Corcoran, he was warmly embraced—especially by the church ladies who kept him well fed—and he led a thriving youth group. Many of the youth he mentored there remained in touch with Pastor Ken for the rest of his life. It was also in Corcoran that he met local schoolteacher Margaret Tanner, who would become his wife.

After marrying Margaret, Pastor Ken—known affectionately by this title to most of his congregants—moved his growing family to Orosi and later to Visalia, continuing his ministry in a variety of pastoral roles. He served churches such as Sequoia Presbyterian Church, Reedley United Methodist Church, Three Rivers Presbyterian, Lemon Cove Presbyterian, and finally, Woodlake Presbyterian. Ken and Margaret welcomed two daughters, Marisa and Kristen, during their years in Orosi. As the only man in a house full of women, he often joked that he actually quite enjoyed it.

After more than two decades of ministry, Pastor Ken took a brief step back from the pulpit and earned his teaching credential. He became an elementary school teacher in the Cutler-Orosi Unified School District, but couldn’t stay away from preaching for long—eventually returning part-time to the pulpit at Reedley United Methodist Church. He continued both vocations until his retirement from teaching in 2001. He continued to pastor part time for the next 10 years.

Retirement marked the beginning of a new chapter as a world traveler. He and Margaret visited places like Riga, Latvia; the Galápagos Islands; the Great Wall of China; and returned to Scotland and the British Isles. They also enjoyed many trips across the U.S., as well as international cruises and tours with friends and family.

Around 2015, Ken was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. After Margaret passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021, he spent his final years at Monte Vista Grove Homes in Pasadena, closer to his daughters, son-in-law Egan Yu, and granddaughter Mira Yu sharing stories of his adventures, working on puzzles, and enjoying delicious meals and meaningful activities.

Pastor Ken was known for his thoughtful pastoral visits and his remarkable ability to be fully present with people in whatever moment they were in. He was kindhearted, generous, intelligent, and deeply loved by his congregation and his family. We will miss him dearly—as a pastor, teacher, father, and friend—and take comfort in the thought that he is now reunited with Margaret in heaven, hopefully enjoying all the ice cream cones and games of Bunco he could ever want.