Edmond Timothy Crimmins

1925 - 2013

Edmond Timothy Crimmins, 88, a long time Bartlesville resident, died Thursday, June 13, 2013, at Jane Phillips Medical Center of natural causes. Funeral Services will be Tuesday, June 18, at 2:00 p.m. in the Neekamp Funeral Chapel. His son-in-law, Reverend Bill Payton, will be the officiant. Visiting hours are Monday, June 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family will greet friends and relatives from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Internment with military honors will be in the Bartlesville Memorial Park Cemetery immediately following the funeral.
Mr. Crimmins was born February 28, 1925 to John Timothy Crimmins and Flora Grace Ann (Crites) Crimmins in Picher, Oklahoma. He spent his early life throughout Oklahoma learning the many aspects of highway construction as his father oversaw state highway development. At Lindsay, Oklahoma High School, he drove the school bus for students before and after his own classes. He was Class President for four years as well as the Lindsay Class of 1943Valdictorian, enlisting immediately after his 18th birthday in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now Air Force).
During WWII, he served in the 14th Air Force, 344th Cargo Unit, and 1st Combat Cargo Unit in the Burma-China-India campaign. As a navigator, he "flew the hump" over the Himalayas in a C-47 to deliver war matériel to advance bases in enemy territory. Working with the "Flying Tigers" and the OSS (now CIA), he flew numerous missions to smuggle out escaped Allied POWs and downed American fliers at secret locations behind enemy lines. He volunteered repeatedly for dangerous missions transporting gasoline and bombs through artillery fire in order to give his married comrades a better chance of returning to their families. After 600 mission hours into enemy territory, he received two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, the Yellow River Mission Ribbon, the Burma Campaign Ribbon, two unit citations, other ribbons and medals, and was honorably discharged in November 1945.
In January 1946, he enrolled at Oklahoma A. and M. College, (now Oklahoma State University). On Valentine's Day 1946, he met his future wife, Annice, and they married December 27, 1946 in Independence, Kansas. In 1949, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
Following graduation, he worked for the U. S. Corps of Engineering in Tulsa and Enid before being employed by Phillips Petroleum in 1951 for the next 35 years until his retirement from the Refinery Division in 1986. He then worked for Service and Technology for 10 years before a second retirement. During his career, he was responsible for multiple patents and problem solutions in numerous U.S. installations, Norway, and England, where he and Annice lived for two years. He held multiple offices in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Co-workers remarked, "There wasn't anyone who didn't like Ed."
Mr. Crimmins also shared his wealth of knowledge with others. His "hobby" was work. He built and personally maintained the family home, property, and vehicles. He was adept at many crafts, helping innumerable friends and neighbors with home issues, and serving at the First Methodist Church. He especially enjoyed donating his time to help area children by installing the electrical system that still runs the Johnstone Park Kiddie Park.
He and Annice traveled extensively to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. He attended over 40 Elderhostels (now Roadscholar) for local studies with other lifelong learners from across the country.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Lloyd, and nephew Tommy Dale Crimmins. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Annice (Clayton) Crimmins, daughter Alanna Davis Payton, son Timothy K. Crimmins, and grandsons Adam T. and John L. Crimmins, as well as nephews Lloyd Crimmins and wife Liz, and Darrell Crimmins and wife Marty. Also surviving are brothers-in-law Hadwen Clayton and wife Thelma of Bartlesville, Alan Clayton and wife Doris of Fresno, California, and sisters-in-law Sharon Viets and husband Paul of Independence, Kansas, Bethane Reagan of Kansas City, Missouri, and Gertrude Weaver of Newport Beach, California.
Mr. Crimmins' memorial request was for the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice.