Dr. John Crampton

Dr. John V. Crampton, 83, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, at Chateau Girardeau after a short battle with cancer.

He was born Nov. 29, 1930, in Carl Junction, Missouri, to Claude and Neva Sigars Crampton.

John served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955. He then went to Kansas State College in Pittsburg, Kansas, graduating with bachelor's and master's degrees in education.

John married Winona Trout on Aug. 15, 1959, after a whirlwind romance of two weeks. They were happily married for 55 years.

John later earned his Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

John loved to garden.

He taught 41 years, 34 of them at Southeast Missouri State University where he was professor of accounting and chaired the Department of Accounting, Finances and Business Law for 17 1/2 years.

John was very active in numerous Masonic organizations, including Past Master of St. Marks Lodge 93, Past Illustrious Master of Cape Council 20, Past High Priest of Wilson Chapter 75, Past Commander of Cape Girardeau Commandery 55, Past Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council Cryptic Masons of the State of Missouri, The Order of High Priesthood, Order of Silver Trowel, Sword of Bunker Hill, KYCH, Missouri Lodge of Research, Past Sovereign of St. Louis Conclave Red Cross of Constantine, a charter member and Past Sovereign Master of Olin S. McDaniel Council No., 259 Allied Masonic Degrees, Bruce Harmon Hunt York Rite College 162, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest, Past Patron of St. Marks Chapter No. 167 Order of the Eastern Star, Past Associate Bethel Guardian of Job's Daughters Bethel 51, Treasurer of Cape Girardeau Masonic Temple Association.

He was a member of Abbey Road Christian Church.

He is survived by his wife, Winona; daughter, Jeneva; two brothers, Sam of Omaha, Nebraska, and Claude of Berenham, Texas; and one sister, Shirley Harris of Coldspring, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, followed by Masonic services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dr. John V. Crampton MBA Scholarship Fund at the Southeast Missouri University Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 MS7300.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.