IN MEMORY

OF

CHARLES (CHUCK, CHAS) E. CRUM

June 2, 1940 – January 17, 2008

 

He was preceded in death by his Father, Edwin and his young Sister, Constance

He was survived by his Mother, Lucille Crum Jelinek (who passed away February 8, 2008)

Son, Christopher, Lenexa, KS

Grandchildren, Justin, Alyssa and Joel Crum and

Great-grandson, Carter

 

From Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home online obituary:  Charles Crum, 67, passed over [away] at Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan, KS.  Charles known as "Chuck" in his early years and as "Chas" later in life, was born in Abilene, KS, the son of the late Edwin Crum and Lucille Crum-Jelinek, founders of Crum’s Beauty College.

     Chuck married Barbara Kay Werner and had a son in 1961.  He served 2 years in the U.S. Navy Honor Guard as a bugler.  He moved back to Manhattan in 1963 to attend Crum’s Beauty College where he worked after graduation.  In 1964 he was selected to showcase his talent in the Worlds Beauty Fair in LA, where he moved shortly after to work as the asst. hairstylist for the TV program, "My Favorite Martian."  Chuck returned to the family business after the unexpected death of his father in 1965.

     He enjoyed a successful career at Crum’s —opening a boutique on Poyntz in 1969, followed by outlets in Aggieville and Lawrence.  With his friend, Patrick Begnoche, he moved to Dallas in the early ’70s to work in lady’s wholesale apparel.  They secured exclusive rights to several clothing lines and formed Patrick and Chas & Co.  By 1979 Chas was modeling for the Ford Agency in Dallas, and had the largest wholesale clothing showroom in the Dallas Apparel Mart.  A tragic accident—near asphyxiation by carbon monoxide—cut his career short in 1980.  He bounced back from this severe injury and moved home in 1984 to assume a leadership role at Crum’s Beauty College.

     Chas was a gifted athlete, who wrestled, and played football for MHS.  He played football for Butler County Community College for 2 years.  He raced motorcycles, rode horses and enjoyed golf.  Later he became a proficient SCUBA diver, airplane pilot, sailor, and tennis player.  He played trumpet, bugle and guitar.  He had a houseboat on Tuttle Creek and a motor home where he hosted tailgates for KSU football games in the ’60s.  Many residents will remember him riding with his dog "Smokey" on his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle.  He was a handsome man who was charming, quick-witted, and funny.  Internment was in the Sunrise Cemetery.  A memorial was set up for the Alzheimer’s Disease Association.

 

 

 

1 Comment »

1. 

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   Comment by KattyBlackyard — June 14, 2009 @ 10:31 PM

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