Janet W. Crampton

Janet Crampton of Chevy Chase, Maryland, born April 3, 1916, the only child of Clarence and Mabel Weidemann, died peacefully on Sunday morning December 31, 2023, just a few months shy of her 108th birthday.

A native Washingtonian, Janet Weidemann graduated from Central High School in the District of Columbia then attended the University of Maryland. At Maryland she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, became the women’s editor of The Diamondback campus newspaper, and met her future husband, William Crampton. (“I never, ever went steady,” she said, choosing to keep her options open by dating fellow University of Maryland men and Naval Academy students.)

As much as she enjoyed her role as writer and editor of The Diamondback, she majored in dietetics at Maryland and pursued that specialty after graduating in 1937. For a time, she worked as a dietician in government cafeterias in the District of Columbia. Two years after her graduation, Janet married William and they started their married life in Bethesda, Maryland, raising sons Gary and Tom.

It was likely her mother’s influence as a high school science teacher that led Janet to the teaching field. She had several teaching roles before accepting a job as a second-grade teacher at The Primary Day School in Bethesda, Maryland in 1965. She retired from Primary Day at age 96 after 51 years as a teacher. Former students at The Primary Day School, now in their middle age, fondly remember “Mrs. Crampton” who instilled a love of learning in them. In more recent years Mrs. Crampton taught Pre-K and Kindergarten children at Primary Day using her magical “word ring” to reinforce the reading words in the series about Dick, Jane and Sally as she prepared them to take books from the school’s library.

Soon after turning 100, Janet moved to Brighton Gardens in Friendship Heights to enjoy the benefits that come from an assisted living facility. There she continued to keep her mind sharp by playing a variety of challenging games, including Word Challenge and Bingo. She also enjoyed the card game Spite and Malice with friends where she said, “You have to be mean to win.” It was all said in fun because meanness was not in Janet’s spirit. When asked about her longevity, Janet succinctly responded: “It’s God’s will.”

Those who love and admire Janet Crampton agree with Teresa Adams, activity director at Brighton Gardens, who recently remarked, “She is very remarkable. She’s very kind and very appreciative of everything … There’s always a smile on her face.”

Janet Crampton is survived by her two sons Gary (Ann) of Richmond, Virginia, and Tom (Beverly) of Travelers Rest, South Carolina. She is also survived by her granddaughters Debbie Nelson (Rick) and Jennifer Coleman (Ron) and five great grandchildren: Kiersten Nelson, Andrew Nelson, Calab Nelson, Charissa Coleman, and Zach Coleman.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Wednesday January 10, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Joseph Gawler's Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC. A funeral service will take place on Thursday January 11, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Saint Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 5450 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Crampton's memory to the Primary Day School, 7300 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817.