Chip Crews

Ralph L. Crews (Chip), age 74 died on Jan. 13, 2024 surrounded by his wife and three children. Chip was the son of Marvin W. Crews and Zada Walthall Crews. He was the husband of Rebecca Deans Crews (Becky), his wife of almost 50 years. Chip was the father of Katherine Crews Kulak (Kevin) of Darien, CT, Scott Woodson Crews of Saxapahaw, NC, and Ashley Crews Costello (Jim) of Richmond, VA. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Samantha and Amy Baiocco, Jack and Ella Costello, as well as his brothers, Gary W. Crews (Patty) of Edmond, OK and Keith V. Crews (Beth) of Charlottesville, VA.

Chip was born in Lynchburg, VA on August 29, 1949 and later moved with his family to Richmond, VA in 1960. He attended Douglas Freeman High School where he was a varsity athlete, a member of the National Honor Society, and the student body president his senior year. He enrolled at The College of William and Mary where he majored in history, was president of his fraternity (Lambda Chi Alpha), and was a Distinguished Military Graduate in ROTC. He graduated in June 1971 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army.

Chip was on active duty for three years, one of which was in Vietnam. He served with the last US combat infantry forces 196th Light Infantry Brigade in Danang and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. After Vietnam, Chip was assigned to Fort Eustis, VA and lived in Williamsburg where he met Becky during her senior year at William and Mary. In June 1974, he resigned his commission, married Becky, and joined The Prudential as a sales management trainee.

Chip spent the next 39 years in the financial services industry before retiring in 2013. During this time he became a Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant and served for many years on the board of trustees at The American College of Financial Services. Over a ten-year period in Philadelphia during the 1980’s, he built one of Prudential’s largest agencies. He later became a senior officer with Prudential Financial in NJ and The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company in PA where he was responsible for both companies’ nationwide sales forces. Chip’s children remember fondly how every corner of the Crews household held a relic or award inscribed with Prudential’s Rock of Gibraltar insignia, coincidentally reminding us of the rock that Chip was to his family, friends and community.

Chip was active in Scouting as a boy and became an Eagle Scout in 1965. He told his children that earning the Eagle Scout award “changed the trajectory of his life.” He said it gave him the confidence to pursue leadership in all his future life experiences. Thirty years after achieving Eagle Scout, Chip accompanied his son, Scott, and two other boy scouts on a 50 mile trek through the backcountry wilderness of Glacier National Park. That trip was one of the most precious memories to him and Scott.

Chip loved the intrinsic value of sports and athletics. In his youth, he was a baseball catcher, varsity wrestler and track athlete. In his later years, he enjoyed tennis and golf, treasuring the camaraderie even more than the games themselves. His dedication to sportsmanship and teamwork shaped his perspective from his early days and throughout his life. In his retirement, he regularly contributed to the athletic foundation at the College of William and Mary. As a father, he spent countless hours coaching softball and supporting all three children in their various pursuits, whether it was athletics or the arts. He always encouraged the pursuit of excellence rather than perfection and unfailingly celebrated hard work, never mistaking the outcome for the purpose.

During his career, Chip and Becky lived in Newtown Square, PA, Basking Ridge, NJ and Doylestown, PA, traveling to all 50 states and most of Europe. Chip and Becky retired to Williamsburg, VA in 2011. A voracious reader and history buff, Chip loved biographies of great leaders and loved discussing them with others. He was humble about his knowledge of history, but he believed that the better informed one is about the past, the wiser one’s decisions will be going forward. In retirement, Chip and Becky enjoyed their longtime vacation home in Corolla, NC where he was able to spend many wonderful days with his children, grandchildren, and extended family. He met many new friends during retirement and reconnected with many business colleagues and college classmates. Chip was a dedicated W&M Tribe sports fan, played golf regularly as a member of The Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, and traveled the world with Becky. After serving on alumni annual giving boards, Chip co-chaired his 50th college reunion, and in 2011 he and Becky endowed a scholarship for scholar-athletes at the School of Education at William and Mary.

Chip Crews was a man of integrity. Chip always took the high road, gave people the benefit of the doubt, and saw the best in everyone. He was a man of his word and a guiding light for his family. Most notably, Chip embraced life with enthusiasm and good humor.

The family will receive friends at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg on Friday, January 26 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 27, at Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Rd., Williamsburg.

In memory of Chip, the family would appreciate any contributions to: Chip and Becky Deans Crews Family Scholarship (#E4926), College of William and Mary Foundation, Gift Accounting, PO Box 1693, Williamsburg, VA 23185.