Lloyd Crutchfield

Lloyd Eugene Crutchfield, 82, recently residing in Overland Park, Kansas, passed away June 5, 2009, surrounded by family. Eugene was born April 2, 1927, in Capron, Oklahoma, son of the late Oneita McCarty Riggs and Charles Redford Crutchfield. He was the older of two children. Eugene graduated from Field Kindley Memorial High School in Coffeyville, KS in May of 1945 and was drafted into the Army on June 2, 1945. After basic training he was selected to be a drill instructor and instructed recruits in 60mm mortar and M1 rifle. After being discharged, he returned to Coffeyville, worked for Crutchfield Lumber Company and attended Coffeyville Community Junior College. He then enrolled to the University of Oklahoma in Petroleum Engineering and joined the Air Force ROTC. He applied to and was accepted into the University Of Oklahoma College Of Law. However, the outbreak of the Korean War interrupted his studies and needing to graduate quickly to report for service, completed his education and graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, in Alva, OK. On April 28, 1956 in Orlando, Florida, Eugene married Jean Amelia Wetherell, who currently resides in Coffeyville, KS. Eugene served his country for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Personnel Officer in Flight Services serving in many locations, including Newfoundland, Florida, Morocco, Spain, Illinois, Alaska, Hawaii, Vietnam and eventually retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1970 from McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas. Eugene returned to Coffeyville to pursue his interest in ranching. He was employed at Funk Manufacturing. Eugene enjoyed cooking reading and the outdoors. He raised his family in Coffeyville until his health forced him to retire from active farming and move to the Kansas City area to be close to his children. Mr. Crutchfield was a member of Keystone Masonic Lodge 102, Mirza Shrine, the York Rite Royal Arch Chapter 89 and a member of Knights Templar 52 in Coffeyville. He attended the First United Methodist Church while in Coffeyville. He was a volunteer to the Pioneer Chapter of American Red Cross, the Coffeyville Planning and Zoning Board and the SEKAN Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and John Teeter, DVM of Lenexa, KS; sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Jill Crutchfield of Overland Park, KS; Robert and Barbara Crutchfield, of Austin, TX; Lt. Colonel James and Beth Crutchfield of Mildenhall, England; his brother and sister-in-law, Sam and Lois Riggs of Denver, CO and grandchildren Daniel, Michael, and Hannah Teeter of Lenexa, KS; Andrew and Mark Crutchfield, Garrett and Spencer Schwede of Overland Park, KS; Ashley and Cody Crutchfield of Austin TX; Ryan, Jake, and Margaret Crutchfield of Mildenhall, England. Mr. Crutchfield was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lewis Mack Crutchfield, Lt. Colonel USAF Retired. A graveside service will be held Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 11:00 am, at Restlawn Cemetery. Father Jerry Adinolfi will officiate. The family suggests memorials to The American Lung Association or to the Pioneer Chapter, American Red Cross. Contributions may be left with the funeral home.