Ernest Crump

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Ernest Paul "Pea-Dad" Crump, 85, of Chaffee died Thursday, July 1, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 1, 1924, at Chaffee, son of Ernest Kirby and Ida Mae Williams Crump. He and Dorothy Marie Mills were married Dec. 4, 1951.

Paul was raised in Chaffee and started in the service station business at a very young age, working his way through high school. He had numerous jobs growing up, such as operating the projector at Horstman Theatre in Chaffee.

He joined the U.S. Army and continued to work as a mechanic. Once he got out of the service he operated his own business, Crump's Mobil Gas Service, in Chaffee 25 years. He also worked with the Chaffee Volunteer Fire Department several years.

His love for automobiles brought him to build his own stock cars which he raced on Saturday nights at the Arena in Cape Girardeau. After retiring from his business, he worked for the city of Chaffee and Whitaker Hardware.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Chaffee, past commander of Chaffee American Legion Post 389, and was quartermaster 10 years at Chaffee VFW Post 3127, where he enjoyed calling bingo for the organizations a number of years.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Ernie (Teresa) Crump of Chaffee; four daughters, Deborah (Steve) Hawks and Paula Moit, all of Mountain Grove, Mo., Peggy (Mark) Uhrhan of Pocahontas, Kathy (Bobby) Sexton of Chaffee; a brother, Harrel Crump of Chaffee; three sisters, Ethel Anderson and Dorothy Nobles of Scott City, Coletta Hahn of Chaffee; six grandsons, Chad (Kristi) Uhrhan, Matt (Jessica) Uhrhan, Charlie (Tammy) Moit, Trey, Nick and Cory Crump, two granddaughters, Elizabeth and Elaine Sexton; four great-grandsons, Noah, Zachary, Mark Wayne and Carter Uhrhan.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Amanda Uhrhan; three sisters, Irene Dennis, Gladys Compas and Bernice Ancell; and a brother, Clifford Crump.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Monday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. A VFW service will be held at 7.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel, with the Rev. Vyron Yount officiating, assisted by the Rev. Darren Larkin. Burial will be in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.