Robert Edward Crunk

Robert E. Crunk January 29, 1922 – January 1, 2017 Robert Crunk was born in Lockesburg, Arkansas and raised as a farm boy and part of a very large family, until he left home to serve our country in World War II. After at least 35 missions, during one of which his plane was shot down and he parachuted to safety in northern France, he returned home. He went to trade school and by the late 1940s had started working as a Body Mechanic, which he continued until he retired in the 1980s. He was an excellent craftsman. Along the way he raised me, his only natural son. He later married the love of his life, Louise, and they shared more than 30 years of marriage before she passed away. He gained three stepsons by marriage and enjoyed being a part of their lives as well. After living alone for a few years, he joined us in Missouri where we shared 6 months together. He thoroughly enjoyed his role as great-grandpa and spent many hours playing with Ryan, one of his nine great grand children. His calm, quiet and loving presence will be missed by ALL his family members. Many families put a favorite scripture or lyrics to a hymn in these written mementos. Unfortunately, I do not have anything specific. What I can share is this: My dad raised me in the church and was always active until the health of his wife kept him from attending. In the 1980s he gave us all a scare when he had a couple of heart attacks. During one of those recovery periods I asked him about his faith. He assured me of his faith in Christ. He was never outspoken about his faith but it must have been one of the things that helped him be one of the most honest people I have ever met. I cannot recall him ever having spoken a harsh word about or to anybody, including me! He enjoyed being a part of a seniors Sunday School class at our church and had been making new friends, even at age 94! He was unselfish and it is ironic that his injury that ultimately led to his unexpected death, was in trying to be of service to someone else as he helped us deliver a meal to a family in our church who had been injured in a car accident. My dad was a great example of a life well lived and one of giving to others. I hope I can do justice to his memory and be as good a role model as he was for me.