David Crockett Edmiston Jr.

David Crockett Edmiston Jr., 89, passed away on May 1, 2020, at his home in Golden, Colorado, with family by his side. He had been in declining health for several years. A private graveside service will be held at 1 pm on May 9 at the Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary and Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Dave, as he was known, was born on November 19, 1930, in Austin, Texas, to David Crockett Edmiston and Wilma Josephine Glimp. He made good grades in school, graduated Top Boy of Lufkin High School’s Class of 1947 and was the recipient of the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award and Hardin-Simmons University Honor Literary Scholarship. At the age of 16 he enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. At that time the degree took five years to obtain, a fact he never failed to mention. He joined the honors fraternity, Phi Eta Sigma, as a freshman and was a proud member of Delta Upsilon fraternity, maintaining lifelong friendships from his time in Austin. His favorite colors were orange and white (University of Texas) and purple and gold (Lufkin High School), remaining loyal through all his days to both alma maters.

Following graduation, Dave was employed by Texasgulf Company. He stayed with the company for his entire career. Over the next 38 years and seven months, he spent time at plants in Beaumont and Newgulf, Texas, Moab, Utah, and Arvada, Colorado, as well as an eleven year stint in Aurora, North Carolina. In addition to his chemical engineering duties, Dave became involved in research and development and was heavily involved in Texasgulf’s decision to open the plants in Moab and Aurora. In fact, after a year in Aurora researching the feasibility of mining the phosphate, Dave spent most of 1964 in Houston, Texas, assisting Brown & Root in designing the Lee Creek mine. He was also known to say that the timing worked out perfectly for his son, David Crockett III, to be born a Texan.

Once the designs were completed, Dave moved his family back to Aurora, North Carolina, and over the next ten years worked his way up to acid plant manager, assistant manager and general manager. He was respected as a fair and caring leader, known to prowl the plant in the wee hours of the morning to make sure construction was happening on schedule or machinery was operating appropriately.

Although most employees Texasgulf brought in lived elsewhere, Dave chose to support the small town of Aurora by putting down roots there. With his children enrolled in the local public school, Dave became active on the Richland Township Parent Teacher Association (PTA) serving as president from 1967-1972. He was also a member of the local school board and never missed a graduation. He loved football and was instrumental in getting a field built and a team established at Aurora High School. Although he did not have a child on the team he rarely missed a game, home or away, and was also a fan of basketball, supporting those teams as well.

In 1974, Dave was promoted to the Texasgulf office in Raleigh, North Carolina and then moved to Wilton, Connecticut, allowing him access to the company offices in Stamford and New York City. After this he moved to Denver, Colorado, and then back again to Raleigh, North Carolina until his retirement in 1990 with the title of vice president of Texasgulf. He settled in Golden, Colorado, continuing to act as consultant on projects when asked; he was very proud of his career and up until his final days claimed he never retired.

Throughout his life, Dave was a fun-loving man who opened his home to many that expanded beyond his traditional nuclear family. He fostered his love of sports and traveling in his children and grandchildren by generously encouraging adventures at every possible opportunity. In addition to football, basketball and hockey, he enjoyed reading, stamp and coin collecting, genealogy, fossil and rock hunting, traveling, playing tennis and downhill skiing, which he learned to do at the age of 57.

Animals held a special place in Dave’s heart and he cherished the many pets he had throughout his life. He also loved ice cream, especially chocolate. In 1982 he purchased The Sweet Aspen, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor in the former mining town of Central City, Colorado, for his family to operate. He loved helping out by scooping ice cream during the busy summer months.

Family meant everything to Dave, evident in the love and care shown throughout all branches of his family tree. He was a surrogate father to his three eldest grandchildren, Kelley, Kendall and Erin, who lost their father at an early age and happily insisted on many opportunities for the family-at-large to gather. The Edmiston reunion and quarterly newsletters that he painstakingly edited were some of his favorite methods to ensure that far-flung family stayed in touch. His legacy of love will be everlasting in those that he called family. He often remarked in his last days how lucky a man he was.

He is survived by his wife Alice Register Edmiston. The two met when Alice was hired as a carhop at Dave's Drive-In, an ice cream/hamburger stand in Lufkin, Texas, owned by Dave’s father. They were married on October 11, 1952, and spent the next 67 years building a happy life together. Their love for each other never died, continuing to cuddle, hold hands and tease each other during family meals, even after the stroke in December 2019 that robbed him of most of his memories.

Together they had four children, Mary Kathleen “Katie” Edmiston of Denver, Colorado; Karen Denise Edmiston Simmons of Greenville, North Carolina; Kimberely Anne “Kim” Edmiston of Black Hawk, Colorado; and David Crockett “Dave” Edmiston III (Cheri) of St. Louis, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Mary Kelley Floyd of the home; Kendall Floyd Bourgon (Ray) of Black Hawk, Colorado; Erin Floyd of Kemah, Texas; Kenly Simmons of Zebulon, North Carolina; Clay Simmons of Greenville, North Carolina; Kaitie Edmiston Hackett (Matt) of Chicago, Illinois; Megan Edmiston of St. Louis, Missouri; Will Edmiston of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and two great-grandchildren, Diamone Floyd of Denver, Colorado; and Terryn Brewer of Kemah, Texas.

Online condolences and favorite photos you may have of Dave can be posted at www.crownhillfuneral.com. Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice (Dave's favorite charity was supporting anything to do with Macular Degeneration Research though his generosity knew no bounds and he contributed to many charities in his lifetime).