Archie Eugene "Gene" Crump, 87, the son of Archie T. and Alice Lucinda Gertrude (Jones) Crump was born January 21, 1928 in Lancaster, MO and departed this life on March 6, 2015 at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville.

On September 6, 1951 Gene was united in marriage to Bertha Jean Ridge at the Lancaster Christian Church and to this union three children were born: Carl Eugene, Kathy Ann and Lori Lea.

Gene came to know the Lord when he was forty years old and loved serving Him and the church. He served as an active deacon in the Lancaster Baptist until moving to Kirksville in 1982; at which time he served in the Hamilton Street Baptist Church until his health failed. At that time he was presented with a Deacon Emeritus plaque, of which he was very proud.

He was also proud of having served in the military during the Korean Conflict. He was in the Army and stationed in Japan for eighteen months. After being honorably discharged from the service, he was employed as Star Route Mail carrier for a number of years. He then went to work for Morgan Oil Company in Lancaster until they closed. In 1982, Archie went to work for Greenwood School in Kirksville as custodian until retiring in 1993.

The pride of Gene's life was his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to being survived by his wife Bertha of sixty-three years he is survived by his children, Carl (Lexi) Crump of Kirksville, MO, Kathy (Wayne) Anderson of Glenwood, MO, and Lori (Ron) McElhinney of Lancaster, MO. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Christina (Chris) Morgenstern of Kirksville, MO, Aaron Crump and companion Beth Buie of Moberly, MO, David Anderson and fiance Elissa Tippett of Kirksville, MO, Heather (Adam) Mercer of Kirksville, MO, Alisha (Aaron) Mitchell of LaPlata, MO, Lucas McElhinney and fiance, Haley Cooper of Lancaster, MO and Whitney McElhinney and boyfriend, Matt Rockhold of Lancaster, MO; seven great-grandchildren, Raven Morgenstern, Afton Morgenstern, Dylan Mitchell, Hailey Mitchell, Gavin Mercer, Drake Macomber and Brantlee McElhinney; one sister, Leola Dotson of Kirksville, MO; sisters-in-law, Carolyn (Richard) Evans of Downing, Betty Martin of Kirksville, MO, Keturah Ridge of Ottumwa, IA, and Connie (Dave) Spurgeon of Omaha, NE; brothers-in-law, Charles Ridge of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and James (Gail) Ridge of Long Grove, IA, along with several nieces and nephews, and his church family.

Archie was preceded in death by his parents; one infant brother; one infant sister, and three brothers-in-law, Lloyd Ike Dotson, Wayne Martin and John Ridge.

Public visitation is in progress and family will receive friends this evening, Monday, March 9, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at Hamilton Street Baptist Church in Kirksville, with Pastor Charles Jackson officiating. Interment with military honors will follow the service at Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Crump, David Anderson, Lucas McElhinney, Chris Morgenstern, Aaron Mitchell and Adam Mercer. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Shesvold, Neil Elliot, Doug Athon and Don Riley.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Archie Crump may be made to Hamilton Street Baptist Church. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.