Virginia Ella Crumpler
June 15, 1926 – December 22, 2023
BOWIE – Virginia Crumpler, 97, passed through to her heavenly home, reunited with all loved ones she’d been waiting to see for many years, including her beloved son, Dr. Paul Hulen Crumpler on Dec. 22, 2023.
A visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on Jan. 27. The celebration of life honoring Virginia will follow at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Bryan.
Virginia, daughter of Horace and Margaret Hatcher, was born June 15, 1926, in Cherryvale, KS, youngest of nine children. The family moved to Rogers, AR, when she was six, and two years later to Monett, MO, where she graduated from high school in 1944. She moved to Houston, to live with an older sister. Virginia then went to business school and found employment with a newly established oil company. While in Houston, she joined Beta Sigma Phi Business Sorority, representing the Eta Phi Chapter. In 1947 Virginia was named “Sweetheart of Beta Sigma Phi.”
In 1949 she met and married Dr. Hulen Crumpler, a family practitioner in Bowie, who along with his brother, surgeon Dr. Prentice Crumpler, and gynecologist, Dr. E. P. Harris, owned and operated the Bowie Clinic and Hospital.
Virginia loved bowling and was regularly on a team in Bowie until they closed down the bowling alley. Then her team traveled to Wichita Falls every week to bowl. While there, Virginia’s skills were honored with an appearance on TV when the amateur once achieved the highest score in the tournament (277/300), earning a bonus check.
In the Bowie community, Virginia championed youth activities through the Bowie Independent School District Booster Club, Bowie ISD Band Parents, Hospital Auxiliary and Boy Scouts. She helped raise money for scouting cots and tents by having a spaghetti supper at church—she cooked all the food, including pies for dessert. Virginia was awarded the distinction of “Woman of the Year” in 1971 by the Bowie Chamber of Commerce.
The Bowie Hospital Auxiliary recognized her for more than 1,000 hours of service, as she helped organize the Junior Auxiliary, training high school students for work at the hospital during the summer months. Her gifts of time and unselfish devotion fed souls and children alike. For the booster club, Virginia was responsible for the football and all-sports banquets—from selling tickets to providing home-cooked meals. Whether she cooked 50 pounds of her famous chili to fill bowls or top hot dogs, it was natural for her to serve 350–400 people at the banquets and she made it look easy.
Her Christian church work in the Baptist faith started in Bowie, where she began by enrolling babies into the church. From there, she became director of the nursery, working with toddlers, beginners and pre-school ages. Virginia worked in bible school every year and was active in her Sunday school class.
In Bowie, Virginia kept a beautiful home; her yard was perfectly manicured. She took pride in taking care of the yard, from planting trees and shrubs, to pruning, spraying and fertilizing.
Virginia made Bryan her home in October 1984. She began working at Texas Agricultural Extension Service as a receptionist in 1985 and retired in 1998. Her main interest in life, though, was her children. She attended every function they had and lovingly took care of their every need throughout her lifetime.
She joined First Baptist Church of Bryan in December 1984 and enjoyed 40 years of faithful friendships in her Sunday school class. Later, Virginia became active in “KITS” (Keeping In Touch), a group especially for 55+ members, who liked to play 42 and other games. She loved to attend church each Wednesday night for fellowship and worship. She was presented the Outstanding Senior Adult Volunteer award for 2010–2011, for “her unselfish time and effort aiding in the success of the Adult 55+ Ministry.”
Maintaining a vital, active lifestyle, Virginia loved to eat out with different friends several times a week and her friends gathered regularly in her home in more recent years as her journeys outside home became more restricted. There were never any needs she had that her children didn’t meet for her as she had always been there for them as they were growing up.
Virginia is survived by son, James Robert and daughter-in-law, Kristel Crumpler, Bowie; daughter, Jeannie Michelle (Crumpler) Mansill and son-in-law, Owen Mansill, Bryan; grandchildren, Jason Goss (Jennifer), Justin Goss (Bridget) and Calli Goss Halbrook (Brandon), Jameson (Michaela) and Jordan Crumpler, Sarah (Dan), Jason Crumpler, and Jenna Crumpler, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Virginia’s memory to Project Unity, the community family nonprofit created and founded by her daughter, Jeannie, in 1995. Donations may be sent to Project Unity, P.O. Box 2812, Bryan, TX 77805. Express condolences at CallawayJones.com.
Paid publication