Tommie Dale Crimmins

CHARLESTON - Dale Crimmins, 67, was surrounded by the love of his family when he passed away on Saturday, September 15, 2012.  Born March 29, 1945, in Laredo, TX, Tommie Dale was the second of three sons of Lloyd E. Crimmins and Shirley M. (Gaskill) Crimmins. He and his brothers grew up in a military family; their father was a Major in the U.S. Air Force and they moved frequently.  He graduated from Cobden High School in 1963, where he played on the Appleknockers basketball and baseball teams.  His college education was interrupted by his service in the U.S. Navy from 1966-1970.  He made three deployments to Vietnam serving as a Radioman on the USS Hancock aircraft carrier.  He earned a Bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, with a double major in Management and Marketing.  Upon graduation, he accepted a job with Goodyear Tire & Rubber company, working as a Retail Manager and District Product Service Manager in St. Louis, then as a Territory Sales Manager for Central Illinois, resulting in relocation to Charleston in 1980.  Prior to his retirement in 2010, he was employed as a Retail Store Manager with Neal Tire & Auto Service for 23 years.  Customers appreciated his honesty, personal touch and willingness to go the extra mile to meet their needs.He and Brenda Sehnert met as teenagers.  After dating four years, they were married on September 2, 1967 at the First United Methodist Church of Carbondale.  Together they celebrated 45 years of marriage.  She survives.  Also surviving are three daughters and five grandchildren.  Melanie D. (Crimmins) Bottom, husband Eric T. Bottom and their three children Trevor T., Corrin D., and Glenna S. live in Wheaton, Illinois.  Andrea M. Crimmins and son, Carter D. Elston live in Normal, Illinois.  Sarah E. Crimmins and son, Aiden C. Peake live in Denver, Colorado.  He is also survived by two brothers, Lloyd E. Crimmins, Jr. (wife Elizabeth), Darrell B. Crimmins (wife Martha); two uncles Edmond T. Crimmins (wife Annice) and Clifton R. "Buddy" Gaskill; and an aunt Jo Gaskill Moore (husband Clifford).His in-law parents, Frank and Imogene Sehnert, live in Carbondale.  Surviving in-laws also include Loreen (Sehnert) Mason, Trent Sehnert (wife Zoraida "Tot"), and Claude Sehnert (wife Rebecca).  Twelve nephews and nieces survive, along with several cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and an aunt, Laverne (Gaskill) Pettigrew (husband Garner).Dale was an avid sports fan, wearing jerseys for the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas Jayhawks, Denver Broncos, EIU Panthers and SIU Salukis.  But his favorite team was the CHS Lady Trojans, supporting his daughters' participation in volleyball, softball, basketball and track during their high school years.  One of his greatest joys was sharing his daughters' love for music and listening to them sing and perform.  For 18 years, he assisted his wife in leading the Lincoln Railsplitters 4-H Club.  He is well-known for his witty quick sense of humor making those around him chuckle and smile.Cancer slowed and challenged his last two and a half years of life but he maintained a positive outlook and continued his travels to visit family and grandkids.The Crimmins family invites you to a memorial service to celebrate Dale's life.  It will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Charleston, Illinois.  A fellowship gathering will follow at the church.  A private family burial will be held at Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston on another date.In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church of Charleston (2206 4th Street, Charleston, IL 61920), the ACS St. Louis Hope Lodge (4215 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108), the Charleston Food Pantry (990 West State Street, Charleston, IL 61920) or charity of choice.