Howard ‘Jerry’ W. Crumrine passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 15th just a few weeks following his 100th birthday. His birthday was celebrated with his wife, Phyllis, and his four children on September 15th. Jerry was born in 1923 and lived through a great deal in his lifetime. He experienced the Great Depression of the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. He served his country in WWII serving in the Army Air Force where he was a radio operator and a gunner on a B-17. He flew 33 combat missions over Germany narrowly surviving enemy fire on several occasions. He was awarded numerous medals and ribbons for his valor. Following the war, he became a lifelong civil service employee serving the government in many roles. At the time of his retirement, he was overseeing one of the largest directorates in the Army Material Command at Redstone Arsenal. He was awarded the prestigious Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his many contributions at Redstone.
Jerry was born in the small town of Middlebourne, West Virginia, but moved to Huntsville over 66 years ago and made it his lifelong home. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church and served the church as a key member of their finance committee for many years. He further served the community as a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Freemason. He enjoyed playing golf in his retirement. During his lifetime, he carded 4 holes-in-one. It was a well known fact that he could talk to anyone about almost anything and as such, he used his passion for golf to become one of the first marshals hired at Hampton Cove Golf Club and continued in that role well into his 80’s meeting and greeting people from all over the country.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Phyllis, with whom he celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary in March of this year. Other survivors include his four children, Jeff, Sandy, Debbie, and John. Additionally, he was blessed with 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
There will be a service celebrating his life at Laughlin Service Funeral Home at 12:00 PM on Thursday, October 19th. There will be a private family burial at Maple Hill Cemetery.
