Funeral for John Sharp Cromeans, 100, of Decatur will be Saturday, May 19th at 1:00 PM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church with Pastor Aaron Kretzschmar officiating. Visitation will be from 11:30AM to 1:00 PM at the church. Burial will be at Burningtree Memorial Gardens. Mr. Cromeans died Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at his home. John was born May 7, 1918 in Strawn, Texas to Randall and Margaret Idella Brown Cromeans. He graduated from Texas Tech in 1941 and served in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps (1942 – 1945). In 1944 he married Sidonia Kieschnick. They were blessed with five children and enjoyed many happy years of marriage before Sid passed in 1996.
John worked for Phillips Petroleum in Oklahoma (1945- 1951) and then Girdler Corp. in Louisville, Ky. (1951-1957). In 1957 he helped form Catalyst & Chemicals, Inc. and in 1969 he formed Catalyst Consulting Services, Inc. John held several patents in the petrochemical industry. He was active in the AIChE and enjoyed traveling, family, and working with mission churches. In 1999 he married Betty Agee and they traveled, enjoyed family, and attended Elderhostels before she passed in 2018.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his four siblings, his wife of 52 years (Sid), his wife of 19 years (Betty), a grandson (Brian Van Allen), and a great-grandson (Hunter Van Allen.) John is survived and lovingly remembered by his children: Martha (Ed) Reese of Fullerton, California; Nancy (Nico) Van Allen of Chandler, Arizona; Jane (David) Burrell of Decatur; Bob John Cromeans of Houston, Texas; and Don (Billie) Cromeans of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by eight grandsons: Todd (Cari) Reese, John (Sneha) Madhavan-Reese, Wesley (Jill) Van Allen, David (Jenny) Van Allen, Peter (Jessica) Van Allen, Andrew (Cassie) Van Allen, Kevin (Tina) Burrell, and Mark Burrell; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Pall Bearers will be grandsons. The family wishes to thank Dr. Michael Donham, Morningside Assisted Living,The Terrace Memory Care Unit, and Hospice of the Valley for their loving care for John. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 1700 Carridale SW, Decatur AL 35601.
