Arthur Morrison Crump

ARTHUR MORRISON CRUMP 1942 - 2005 Benton Harbor, MI Arthur M. Crump, 63, passed away Friday evening, June 3, 2005, at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, MI. Arthur was born March 28, 1942, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Frank and Mary Crump. He excelled in academics and basketball. He played forward on the Roosevelt Panthers basketball team. A 1960 graduate of Roosevelt High School and a 1964 graduate of Idaho State University (ISU), he was an All-American Honorable Mention basketball player at ISU. He was later inducted into the Idaho State University Sports Hall of Fame. Arthur also played semi-professional basketball for the NABL. Married to Janet Dear of Gary in 1968, together they enjoyed a loving family life that included raising daughters Danielle and Mi'chele, and later, grandchildren Davion and Marielle. After several years teaching school in Gary, Arthur moved to Kalamazoo, MI to work as an Admissions Officer at Western Michigan University where he also earned a Masters Degree. In 1973 Arthur joined the faculty of Lake Michigan College (LMC) and coached the LMC men's basketball team from 1973-1976, leading his team in 1974 to second place finish in the conference. He also held positions as Dean of Students, Dean of Community Service, and Supervisor for Athletics, Financial Aid and Registration. Arthur was inducted into the LMC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. Arthur served as trustee of the Board of Education of the Benton Harbor Area Schools (BHAS) and was elected President from 1978-81, a challenging period marked by monumental change. Subsequent to leaving LMC, Arthur held positions as Assistant Administrator for Adult Education and principal of Bard, Martindale and Stump Elementary Schools. He also served as President of the Benton Harbor Area Schools Administrators' Association. A life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Arthur was a respected and beloved community servant and an avid mentor to youth. His confident leadership, non-judgmental and patient demeanor, and ability to listen effectively empowered his staff, students and parents, and endeared him to all. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife Janet; daughters: Danielle and Mi'chele; grandchildren: Davion and Marielle, siblings: James (Joanna) Mariner, Beatrice (Otis) Sibley, Dorothy Henderson and Adlee Hodges of Gary, Indiana; Lorraine (Robert) McNair of Bellevue, Nebraska, David (Sandra) Crump of Milton, Massachusetts; sister-in-law Esther Crum of Brockton, MA; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Dear, Sr. of Gary; sisters-in-law, Esther Crum of Brockton, MA, Alice Dear of New York City and Bertha Dotson of Gary; and brother-in-law, Benjamin Dear, Jr. (Phyllis) of Gary; nieces, nephews, cousins; special family friends, Lillie Travis of Gary In, Charles (Ora) Sanders of St. Joseph, MI; and a host of friends and colleagues. For viewing, friends may visit the Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, 204 S. Fair Ave., Benton Harbor, MI; Tel.: 269-927-3181. The wake service will be held on Friday evening from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Union Memorial AME Church 911 S. Crystal Ave. The Homegoing celebration will be held Saturday, June 11, at 10:00 a.m. at Second Baptist Church 600 Donald Adkins Dr., with the Rev. Julius Keys, officiating. Burial will be in North Shore Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to "Benton Harbor Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc." designating the Arthur M. Crump Scholarship, to benefit Benton Harbor students. The scholarship will be administered by the Benton Harbor Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (856 High Street; Benton Harbor, MI 49022). You are invited to sign a guest book and "Share a Memory" with the family: www.arthurcrump.com.