William Bowen Crabtree Jr. (1920 - 2013)

Ancestors

Biography

Bill was born September 12, 1920, NE of Highland, the son of William Bowen and Zella Constance Gilmore Crabtree. After his mother's death on the day he was born, he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Ida and Earl Low in Robinson, KS. He attended grade school in Robinson and moved back to live with his father in Highland where he attended Highland High School graduating in 1938. He later graduated from Highland Junior College in 1940 and enlisted in the Army Air Corp in June 1942. He was stationed in Puerto Rico and Haiti, where he served as a radio operator/mechanic during the remainder of WW II. He was honorably discharged on November 19, 1945, at which time he returned to Highland and married Mary "Jane" Ukena on December 30, 1945. They lived in Highland nearly all of their married life until moving to Abilene to be near family in 2008. She died January 15, 2012.

Bill began his career in retail sales at the Ukena Hardware Store in Highland, eventually becoming a partner in the family corporation. After working there for 42 years, he retired in 1988 and the same year he began working part-time as a sales rep for KNZA Radio FM, Hiawatha, and Byrd Memorial, Atchison. He became an active EMT in 1976, becoming director of Ambulance Services in 1989. He was a member of the KANZA mental health board and a member of the Highland Housing Committee. As a member of the Bellevue UMC church he served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. In later years, he became a member of the Highland Christian Church where he served as an elder.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years and his parents. He is survived by his five daughters: Connie (John) Blanton of Ellinwood, KS, Linda (Stew) Etherington of Abilene, KS, Sue (Scott)Martin of Baldwin City, KS, Kathy (Rick) Hopp of St. Joseph, MO, Amy (Scott) Gard of Topeka, KS; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a number of nieces, nephews and cousins

Name William Bill Crabtree Spouse Mary Jane Ukena Parent William Bowen Children Connie (John) Blanton of Ellinwood, KS, Linda (Stew) Etherington of Abilene, KS, Sue (Scott)Martin of Baldwin City, KS, Kathy (Rick) Hopp of St. Joseph, MO, Amy (Scott) Gard of Topeka, KS Birth 12 Sep 1920 Robinson, Brown, Kansas, USA Death 15 Jun 2013 Abilene, Dickinson, Kansas, USA Residence Abilene, Kansas, USA

1925 lived with W B Crabtree 50 William B Crabtree 4

Sources

• Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, Kansas; 1925 Kansas Territory Census; Roll: KS1925_41; Line: 9