Carl Crisp
After a long and honorable life, Carl Crisp, formerly of New Castle, Indiana, received his Heavenly reward on September 29, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was 98 years old. Carl was a resident of Homestead Manor, Denton, Maryland, where he had moved in July. Carl was born near Yamacraw, Kentucky on June 21, 1924, the youngest child of Cora Dabney Crisp and Joseph Eli Crisp. He attended school at Wolf Creek and Berea College, then enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1943 when World War II broke out. Carl was a radio operator-gunner in a B 17 Flying Fortress, flying 35 successful missions over Europe. He earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf clusters, as well as several other service medals. He attended Radio and Television School in Kansas City, obtaining his commercial radio operator license, then was called to active Air Force duty in the Korean War, serving for 18 months. Carl married Rachel Ann Harris on April 20, 1951 at Harris Chapel in Selma, Indiana. They were married for 66 years. Surviving are: Carla Hankins (George), Diane Merki, Debra Vierk, and Jana Anderson; also grandchildren Courtney Hankins, Jennifer Hankins-Parker (Bradley), and Aaron Merki (Paul), Andrew Merki, Amanda Molinar (Mike), Alyson Merki, and Michael Vierk, Emily Glerum (Jack) and Kaitlyn Vierk. Great-grandsons include Oceanus and Atlas Parker, Ryman and Ellis Molinar, and Henry Glerum. Carl worked for Indiana Bell Telephone Company from 1953 until 1989, serving as a Switching Equipment Technician. He was a member of New Castle First Church of the Nazarene, where he served as treasurer and church board member for many years. His memberships and interests included The Telephone Pioneers of America, the 390th Memorial Museum Foundation, Henry County Amateur Radio Club, the 390th Veterans Association, and the JOY club at First Nazarene Church. He was an active private airplane pilot from 1946 until 2003. His hobbies included playing guitar for fun, fishing with friends, bird feeding, and visiting with children and grandchildren. He and Rachel enjoyed traveling the U.S. and Europe, including England, where they visited the site of the 390th Bomb Group, near Framlingham, England, where he had been stationed during the war. On August 1, 2015, Carl was awarded the French Legion Medal of Honor in a ceremony at Henry County Museum. Carl was a loving father, leaving many happy memories. His daughters cherished the hikes in the woods hunting mushrooms, hiking with him in Kentucky to boyhood play spots, caves, and mountaintops, flying in the airplane with him, and traveling on many vacations to the western and southern states. He made them the best play house and the biggest swing set in the neighborhood! Several years ago, they were able to go to the reunions of his bomb group, the 390th, and meet some of the airmen that he served with. This is a cherished memory. Being soft spoken and a man of few words, he also had a great sense of humor. He provided hilarious entertainment to the church senior group more than once. Carl was also talented in being able to fix and repair things, and he helped many people by volunteering his time and skill. Carl was one of the last members of The Greatest Generation, and we shall not see the likes of them again. He leaves behind a wonderful legacy of integrity and Christian service that is worth emulating. Visitation was on Friday, October 21 at 10:00 a.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, New Castle, with the funeral service following at 11:00. Pastor Danny Goddard will be officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the U.S. Air Force, the American Legion and the VFW. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. Memorial gifts may be made to First Church of the Nazarene, 1727 Grand Avenue, New Castle, Indiana 47362. You may express condolences or share a memory of Carl at www.hinsey-brown.com.
