Clarence Edwin Crisp, 84, died Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at Osprey Village Memory Care Unit due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
Edwin was born in Bryson City, N.C. the son of Ollie May Cochran and John Kyle Crisp and was one of seven children. When he was 5 years old, his family moved to Fernandina Beach, Fla., where he stayed until he was 18 years old.
After graduating from Yulee High School in 1953, he joined his brothers at Rayonier, the local paper mill, where he soon discovered this was not the life for him. With a thirst for travel, Edwin joined the Air Force and ended up being stationed in the United Kingdom, where he met his future bride, Angela.
In May of 1960, they returned to Fernandina Beach, where Edwin and Angela married at the First Baptist Church in downtown Fernandina Beach and then settled in Port Saint Joe, Fla. Later, they moved to Pensacola, Fla. and then Almagordo, N.M., where their first daughter, Lisa, was born. They then moved to Melbourne, Fla., where their second daughter, Amanda, was born.
In 1971, Edwin had the great fortune to take his bride and family back to the U.K. as a U.S. government contractor. They enjoyed over 21 years in the British countryside, where they made many fabulous friends and many great memories. Over the course of his career, Ed managed to obtain three college degrees including an MBA from Boston University. In 1993, Edwin and Angela had the good fortune to move to Bavaria, Germany for work, and then returned to the USA and to his roots in Fernandina Beach, where he remained throughout retirement.
Edwin was known for his devotion to his family and charm along with a great community spirit, from ringing the local church bells to mowing the village monument lawn. He loved a good game of darts and golf and even won a trophy or two for both. Whilst in the U.K., Ed became president of the Harrogate Rotary Club, one of the few Americans to do so.
He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Angela (Grace) Crisp; his daughter, Lisa Walker and grandchildren Amber and Jack Walker; his daughter, Amanda Stefano and her husband, Ben Stefano; his sister, Betty Jo Holland; his brother, Ralph Crisp; and many close friends and family.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 7, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, located at 801 Atlantic Ave. in Fernandina Beach. He will be greatly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations toward Alzheimer’s research. We have made a tribute page honoring Ed at http://act.alz.org/goto/Clarence_Crisp.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors