Mervel Delton Crump
April 13, 1921 ~ October 31, 2012
HUGHES SPRINGS-Mervel Delton Crump, founder of Crump Foods, Incorporated, former two time Hughes Springs City Council member, member of the Masonic Lodge, and respected retail merchant in the Hughes Springs and Lone Star, Texas communities died on October 31, 2012 in Linden, Texas at the age of 91. Born on April 13, 1921 in Shelby County, Texas to Wiley Buford Crump and Stella Mae (Rhodes) Crump, he graduated from Timpson High School in Timpson, Texas in 1938 prior to enrolling in a business course of study at Tyler Commercial College in Tyler, Texas. Prior to completing his studies, Mr. Crump eloped with and married the former Vivian Estelle (Pat) Sapp on April 21, 1940 in Center, Texas. With the outset of World War II, Mr. Crump enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps (now the United States Air Force) where he completed basic training prior to commencing flight training in Springfield, Missouri. Toward the middle of his flight training as a pilot, Mr. Crump became consistently ill, was hospitalized in the base hospital, and was later medically discharged from the Army Air Corps in 1943 due to an intestinal condition that remained with him for all of his life. Mr. Crump worked the remainder of the war years in the shipyards in and around Houston, Texas supporting the seemingly endless manufacturing requirements of the war efforts in Europe and Japan. With the end of World War II came the demobilization of millions of men from active duty and the end of the manufacturing wartime requirements as well as the associated jobs, to include Mr. Crumps job in the shipyards. With the recent birth of his daughter, Teresa Carol in 1946 in Orange, Texas, Mr. Crump sought and achieved employment with Mr. Wood Brookshire, owner of the Brookshire Grocery Company, in Tyler, Texas. Using his business background from Tyler Commercial College and a relentless owner mentality, Mr. Crump quickly rose through the ranks in every level of management capacity. It was in Tyler, Texas where his son, Jerry Don, was born in 1949. Mr. Crump and the family transferred to Paris, Texas in 1957 where he served as the Store Director of Brookshires. It was also in Paris, Texas that Mr. Crump was initiated into the Masonic Lodge, eventually achieving the designation of 32nd degree Mason. After 14 years experience in the grocery business, Mr. Crump set out on his own by purchasing the Mayfield Grocery Store in Hughes Springs, Texas in 1960. In 1961, he started his second grocery store in Lone Star, Texas. After a brief time of having a third grocery store in Omaha, Texas, Mr. Crump joined a partnership of local businessmen in Lone Star, Texas that built the Pines Shopping Center which opened for business in 1967. In Hughes Springs, Mr. Crump relocated the grocery store to a larger location in a building owned by Dr. O. C. Bradley, Jr. in 1974. After this building was expanded once, it was tragically destroyed by fire on July 4, 1980. This building was rebuilt and operations commenced again in Hughes Springs, Texas in 1981. Mr. Crump officially retired from the grocery business in 1981, but was never far from stores, employees, and customers. In 1985, Mr. Crump was elected to the Hughes Springs City Council, where he served for two terms, completing his service in that capacity in 1989. In 1998, he and his wife Pat were honored with the Hughes Springs Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement award. A member of the Hughes Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Hughes Springs, Texas as well as a former member of the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Timpson, Texas and the Bible Baptist Church in Hughes Springs, Texas, Mr. Crump travelled to various parts of Europe, the Caribbean, and Alaska. He was an avid fisherman and gardener, with his lawn and garden having been honored by the Red Radiance Garden Club. His passion was the land and outdoor activities. Most importantly, he was a kind and giving Christian man in the communities, leaving an indelible impression on all. Mr. Crump is survived by his wife, Pat, following 72 years of marriage. He is also survived by his daughter, Teresa Carol Spencer, and son, Jerry Don Crump, both of Hughes Springs, Texas as well as a sister, Jean Pierce of Timpson, Texas. Mr. Crump is also survived by five grandchildren: Chris and Debbie Spencer of Hughes Springs, Texas; Joseph and Kozue Spencer of Evans, Georgia; Jason and Lisa Spencer of Alexandria, Virginia; Jennifer and Jesse Foster of Lone Star, Texas; and Andy and Lisa Crump of Lone Star, Texas. Mr. Crump is also survived by seven great grandchildren: Eric Spencer of Statesboro, Georgia; Darby Spencer of Evans, Georgia; Lola Crump of Lone Star, Texas; Jaxsyn Foster of Lone Star, Texas; Jantzen Foster of Sherman, Texas; Chris and Kim Poe of Mount Pleasant, Texas; and Eric Poe of Hughes Springs, Texas. Mr. Crump is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends made over a lifetime. Funeral services will be held at the Hughes Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Hughes Springs, Texas on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 2:00 pm. Interment will take place immediately following at Woodlawn Memorial Park, and the funeral is under the direction of the Reeder-Davis Funeral Home of Hughes Springs, Texas. Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Reeder-Davis. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations in memory of Mr. Mervel Delton Crump to the Women of Worship, Hughes Springs Missionary Baptist Church, 305 North Pecan Street, Hughes Springs, Texas, 75656.
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Grandaddy: Welcome to the "New Jerusalem." Please keep watch on Grandmother, mother, Uncle Jerry, all of us grandkids and great grandkids. Help us to make the right choices…In Jesus name…Amen!
My deepest condolences and sincere sympathy. Mr. Crump was such an impressive, giving, caring, gentle and upstanding person. Prayers lifted for each of the family members.
Sorry for your loss. God be with you all at this time.
To the family of mr Crump, may God be with youll during this time. He ws a good man.
Please accept my condolences in your loss. Mr. Crump had my utmost respect and love….He will be missed.
My heart is sad in hearing of Mr Crump's death. At the same time, I am rejoicing because he has gone "HOME" .For Ms.Crump, Teresa, Jason, Chris, my prayers are with you. I loved and respected your Dad and Grandad and he and Ms Crump have always been so kind to me. I love you all.
So sorry for your loss. Mr. Crump was a kind and great person. May God give you strength as you go through your grieving.
So sorry to hear about Mr. Crump's passing. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Mr. and Mrs. Crump were always very nice to us when we visited. I can only imagine how much he will be missed in Hughes Springs. May God wrap His arms of love around each of you especially during this time.
I'm so sorry that Mr. Crump is gone from us. I know he's happy in his heavenly home but what a hole he has left in our hearts here.I've know Mr. Crump since I was 18 and that was many years ago now. He was always such a calm man and a positive influence for me. My condolences to each of the family and friends that will miss him most.
Mr. Crump was a great person. All of Hughes Springs will miss him. But he will never be forgotten. RIP
May God be with you during this time of great sorrow. Mr. Crump was an inspiration to me in my early years growing up in Hughes Springs. I know your family will miss him tremendously.
To the Crump Family,Our thoughts and prayers are with each one of you during this most difficult time. May God Bless each one of you.
The Crump Family: Please accept my sincere condolences and know that each of you is in my thoughts and in my prayers. Mr. Crump was a very special man and I truly appreciate all he has meant to me and to this community. May our loving Father enfold you in his arms and comfort you as only he can. Love to each of you, Carol Griffis
To Jerry, Prayers for your family.
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our prayers are with each of you! Cherish all the wonderful memories that you have in your heart!
Jennifer – My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. He was a great man! With much love, Cammie
I treasure the memories of a great uncle who comforted a 9 year old boy grieving the loss of his mother; and a great uncle who never ceased showing that little guy how to love The Lord, love his family and love Branson music shows! God bless you Aunt Vivian, Teresa and Jerry! With love, Brad Thomas
Very Sorry to hear about Mr. Crump. Teresa and family, know you are in my prayers. We shopped at your stores for many many years for sure and always loved seeing all of you.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Sorry aboutyour loss. May God bless you and your family. Sherry