Elmer C. Crumbliss, age 83 of Prairie Creek, Arkansas died on October 17, 2012 at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville. He was born and raised in Curtis Bay, Baltimore, Md., on April 15, 1929 to Mary Elizabeth (Moore), and Walter A. Crumbliss, both of whom have long since passed on. He was always proud of the fact his dad was a product of Neosho, Mo.,where they visited in 1939 driving in his Dad's 1938 Packard. At the tender age of 14 Elmer left school to work in his Dad's automobile repair shop in 1943. At age 16 while WWII was still raging, and in a dispute with his Dad, Elmer went to work helping build war ships for the U.S. Coast Guard at the Curtis Bay Yard. After the death of his Dad in 1945, and as soon as he turned 17 Elmer enlisted in the Army Air Force. He served in the South Pacific with the WWII Occupation forces for 2 years, and was honorably discharged in 1950. Shortly after the Korean War commenced he re-enlisted in the Navy for another 4 years. Shortly before his military service ended, in November 1954 he met and married a hometown Baltimore girl Shirley Mae Kreiser, who passed away, after 38 years of marriage in October 1992. Prior to his honorable discharge from the Navy, Elmer spent many long hours in the base library studying for his G.E.D. High School Diploma. He spent 2 years of study at the University of Maryland under his G.I. Bill. After short stints with the Federal Reserve Bank, and the Maryland dept. of Corrections Elmer began a career with Pinkerton's National Detective Agency that lasted nearly 30 years. He retired from Pinkerton's at Indianapolis as District Manager responsible for 4 offices with over 550 employees. Although it took him nearly 8 years to complete, he wrote a 750 page biography titled "THE LIFE, TIMES AND TRAVELS OF ELMER MANY HATS CRUMBLISS". It was a venture he undertook for the benefit of his beloved family, and not for publication. In furthering his writing skills, and while attending Central United Methodist Church, Elmer became acquainted with 90+ year old Allen Baker and assisted him in writing of his WWII combat experiences. After many months of long talks, and considerable research the book was completed and titled "CROSSING THE RHINE-THE HARD WAY". As a result, they became fast and lifelong friends, and lunched together weekly until health problems intervened. Rogers former Mayor Steve Womack was presented a copy of their book, and ordered copies to be provided to the local high schools and library. Mayor Womack considered Elmer and Allen his heros and presented each with a large medallion inscribed "Duty, Honor, Integrity, Courage, and Service". Among his various past times he was fond of watching and feeding his birds; reading history, particularly ancient history; writing poetry, (having written his first poem at age 70). He was a former 10 year member of Central United Methodist Church in Rogers where he read poetry to his Sunday school class, and lead them in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, weekly chores considered among his cherished. Due to the distance to travel, and increase in traffic he and his wife Jean later transferred to the downtown Rogers First United Methodist Church. He was a life member of the V.F.W. Rogers Post 3031: a member of the American Legion Rogers Post #100; a former V.P. of N.W.Ar , (Lafayette) Chapter Sons of the American Revolution; a retired Captain in the Civil Air Patrol (Air Force Aux.) as a flight scanner, and squadron testing officer at Composite Squadron # 115 in Rogers (he became a Lieutenant at age 75, and a Captain at age 80); he was a 45+ year member of the Masonic Order affiliated at Indianapolis Lodge #646; a past member of Murat Masonic Shrine in Indianapolis; a past President of the Arkansas Lighthouse Society; past charter member of the Baltimore County Archaeology society; past member of the Los Angeles Biblical Archaeology Society; past member of the Arkansas Archaeology Society; a volunteer at the Rogers Wellness Center, coordinating the activities for the Veterans Social Hour; past volunteer at the Benton County Women's Shelter Thrift Store; a past board member of the Indianapolis Senior Citizens Center; a past member of the Indianapolis Rotary where he chaired the Senior Citizens Committee; a past board member of the Greater St. Louis, Mo., Professional Investigator Council; and a host of other professional/security organizations as a result of his long career in the profession. Elmer was also a founder of the "Mustard Seeds of America" and "Christian Youth Chapels of the USA". Resulting primarily from memories of his childhood poverty during the Great Depression years, and savings from discontinuing smoking some 20+ years before Elmer began a practice to purchase food for the poor each week as he did the family grocery shopping. Additionally each year during Thanksgiving week he shopped for, and delivered enough hams and turkeys for the Salvation Army to feed well over a hundred less fortunate ( in later years he provided a check for that purpose). Elmer held a strong belief that we are never so poor that we cannot help another less fortunate, nor too old to serve God, Country, Family and neighbor. His entire life was spent in the field of service, and he practiced what he preached. He was very proud of the fact that he stemmed from the Great Generation. Elmer leaves behind his devoted wife, Jean (VanDerLeest) of 18 years, His three sons(from his deceased wife Shirley), Thomas Albert Crumbliss and Ronald Walter Crumbliss of Palm Bay, Florida; Dallas Elmer Crumbliss of Zephyrhills, Florida. Grandchildren, Ashley Kay Morrow of Indianapolis; Thomas Daryl Crumbliss and Michael Stanley Crumbliss of Palm Bay, Florida; Sarah Elizibeth Crumbliss of Zephyrhills, Florida. Interment will be private at the National Cemetery at Bushnell, Florida. Memorial services will be held at the First United Methodist Church, downtown Rogers at 10:00 A.M.on Saturday, October 27, 2012. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Circle of Life Hospice or the First United Methodist Church of Rogers. Arrangements are with Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home of Rogers. Memorial 10:00 AM Saturday, October 27th, 2012
First United Methodist Church Downtown, Rogers, Arkansas