One of my favorite pictures of Sue and me.
Ellen (Sue) Smith Crumpton, age 73 of Grand Prairie, passed away peacefully at her home July 3, 2015, surrounded by family and friends.
She was born in Antlers, Oklahoma, on January 16, 1942. Sue’s grade school days began in a one-room school house in southeastern Oklahoma. She graduated from Antlers High School and then attended Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in less than 3 years.
She was married to Joseph M. Crumpton, III on December 21, 1963 in the First Christian Church in Antlers. Recently, two of her happiest moments were the birth of their grandson, Benjamin and celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary.
Sue’s school teaching career of 38 years began in Wichita, Kansas where she taught for 5 years. She and Joe moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and then to Irving, Texas, and finally to Grand Prairie. She retired after teaching another 33 years in the Grand Prairie ISD at Kennedy Middle School and Jackson Middle School. She was awarded Teacher of the Year at both schools on numerous occasions.
One of her greatest joys was to see former students all grown-up with their spouses and babies of their own and hearing about their lives and accomplishments. One of those stories was about a young man who had graduated from the Naval Academy and is now a doctor, gave his seventh grade teacher credit for his ability to 'do' mental math . . .that teacher, of course, being Mrs. Crumpton.
Going out to eat with Sue was always nice because if the hostess or waiter happened to be one of her students, there was never a wait to be seated or served.
She never threw her magazines away because there was always a chance she would need an article out of it. Most of those magazines had been torn apart and the article mailed to that person who was on her mind when she read it. All her articles came complete with post-it notes attached.
Sue loved looking at cookbooks. She was a wonderful cook and was always preparing and delivering some type of ‘comfort food’ for anyone she felt needed it. The comfort food she always made for me was homemade banana pudding. She knew that I liked the vanilla wafers more than I did the bananas, so my special recipe had an entire box of the cookies and about 5 slices of a banana.
She was a member of the Arlington First Christian Church, Alpha Delta Kappa, AAUW/Women Who Can, and the Serendipity Church Group. She was passionate about education, fellowship, and service to others. She enjoyed RV traveling, playing bridge, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.
She is survived by her husband, Joe, a daughter, Christi of Arlington, and son, Bradley, his wife Andrea, and grandson, Benjamin of Grand Junction, Colorado, her younger brother, Vernon Smith and his wife Linda, of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, sisters-in-law Lena Smith of Norman, Oklahoma, and Paula Westbrook of Mansfield, Texas, and a host of loving family members.
Sue had a multitude of friends who were touched by her goodness and kindness. Two of her life-long friends are Becky and Eli Martinez. Sue and Becky's friendship started, of course, surrounded by students in their teaching careers. They shared the joys of having children and have traveled many places together for several decades. They have been by her side every day and many nights since March. Becky and Eli Martinez are the quintessential definition of true friends and unconditional love.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ethel Coffman Smith and Hubert Homer Smith, three older brothers, Dexter Eudell Smith, Eanon Smith, and Jim Bob Smith.
Her Celebration of Life will be held Friday, July 10, at 1:30 p.m. at First Christian Church in Arlington, pastored by Reverend Andy Mangum.
Flowers are certainly welcome.
A memorial fund has been created in honor of Sue.
Donations can be made in her name to:
College for Kids
c/o First Christian Church
910 South Collins
Arlington, TX 76010
817-277-2634
