Betty R Crispen

Betty R. Crispen passed away at age 95 on October 31, 2019, in Dunwoody, GA, a suburb of Atlanta where she had moved from Kokomo in the summer of 2016 to live near her daughter. Betty was born June 25, 1924, in Howard County, IN to Esther F. (Russell) and Thomas A. Duncan. In 1974, she embarked on her second marriage, to Lawrence Wayne Crispen, who preceded her in death December 23, 2003. In addition to her husband and parents, Betty was preceded in death by her son, Dennis Gene Crume, of Kokomo, and two sisters, Rieta L. Graf of Sharpsville, IN, and Lt. Col. Mary Margaret Clark of Aurora, CO. Surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Marta J. and Mark H. Ward of Atlanta, GA, and one son and daughter-in-law, Thomas D. and Nancy Crume of Port St. Lucie, FL/Gladwin MI. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Jarod T. Crume and wife Krystle of Anchorage, AK, Dustin P. Crume of Bozeman, MT, and Brynne M. (Ward) McCord and husband Derek of Washington, DC, and one great-grandson, Coby E. McCord of Washington, DC, as well as step-daughter, Cathy Pinson and step-granddaughter, Catie Pinson, of Grand Rapids, MI. Betty graduated from Sharpsville High School in 1942, and subsequently from both Kokomo Business College and Kokomo Beauty College. She worked for several years in the Howard County Clerk’s office in Kokomo. She was a past member of First Christian Church where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School over the years, as well as Kindergarten when the church was in its original downtown location. She was also a member of the Kokomo Senior Citizens Center. Betty was an avid tennis player and bowler, and also enjoyed oil painting, ceramics, golf, Euchre, word-jumble puzzles, basketball, and antiquing. A service celebrating Betty’s life will be held at Ellers Mortuary and Cremation Center, 3400 South Webster Street, Kokomo, on Monday, December 9, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the VA Cemetery in Marion, IN, next to her late husband. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday, December 8 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., also at the mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made in Betty’s memory to First Christian Church, 854 North 300 West, Kokomo, IN 46901, or, Brighton Gardens of Dunwoody Assisted Living, 1240 Ashford Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30338. Envelopes will be provided at the mortuary.