Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - George Erwin ‘Spunk’ Crippen


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features George Erwin ‘Spunk’ Crippen and three of his descendants down to the second generation.


First Generation
1. George Erwin ‘Spunk’ Crippen,1 born 17 April 1910 in Glenwood, Cass County, Michigan, the son of Edward Leo ‘Eddie’ Crippen and Mae Elizabeth Wait;1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 died 16 June 1976 in Plainwell, Allegan County, Michigan.2, 3 Spunk married, 23 February 1940 in LaGrange County, Indiana, Reba Belle Wagner8 (born 1 October 1919 in Butler, DeKalb County, Indiana, the daughter of Homer J. Wagner and Joy Belle McClellen;6, 7, 8, 9 Reba died 8 November 2003 in Lancaster, Dallas County, Texas9). Spunk is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan.2

Children of George Erwin ‘Spunk’ Crippen and Reba Belle Wagner:

 2i. Fern Elizabeth Crippen, born 13 January 1942 in Michigan.7, 10
+3ii. Martha Ann Crippen, born 22 April 1943 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan; died 7 September 2022 in Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan. Married Roger Dale Willcox.
 4iii. Vernon George Crippen, born 1 July 1946 in Indiana.7, 10

  1. Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917, Cass County, George E. Crippin, born: 17 April 1910 in Glenwood, Cass County, Michigan; father: Edward Crippin, laborer, born in Michigan; mother: May Wait, born in Michigan.
  2. Find a Grave (website). Prospect Hill Cemetery, Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan, George Erwin “Spunk” Crippen, born: 1910; died: 1975 [sic, his gravestone and death record show he died in 1976] (from record).
  3. Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996; George E. Crippen, died: 16 June 1976 in Plainwell, Allegan [County], Michigan; born: 17 April 1910; residence place: Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo [County], Michigan.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Michigan, Van Buren County, Decatur Township, E.D. 187, Sheet No. 3B-4A, Josephine Crippen, 68, Michigan, widow, farm manager, own farm; son Freeman Crippen, 39, Michigan, farm laborer, working out; son Edward Crippen, 32, Michigan, divorced, farm laborer, working out; grandson Miles Crippen, 10, Michigan; grandson Erwin Crippen, 8, Michigan.
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Michigan, Van Buren County, Waverly Township, 82-32, Sheet No. 1B, Josephine Crippen, 80, Michigan, farmer, general; son Freeman Crippen, 49, Michigan, farmer, general; grandson Irwin Crippen, 20, Michigan, laborer, factory.
  6. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, Michigan, Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo, E.D. 39-47, Sheet No. 11A, George E. Crippen, 28, Michigan, drag line operator, power plant; wife Reba Crippen, 20, Indiana.
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Allegan County, Trowbridge, E.D. 3-77, Sheet No. 3, George E. Crippen, 40, Michigan, repairman, Allegan coop; wife Reba B. Crippen, 30, Indiana; daughter Fern E. Crippen, 8, Michigan; daughter Martha A. Crippen, 6, Michigan; son Vernon G. Crippen, 4, Indiana.
  8. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Application for Marriage License Male and Female [separate sections], and Certificate of Marriage: George Erwin Crippen, born: 17 April 1912 [sic, his birth record is dated 1910] in Decatur, Van Buren County, Michigan; occupation: operator; father: Edward L. Crippen, born in Decatur, Michigan, farmer; mother: May Waite, born in Glenwood, Michigan; first marriage; Reba Belle Wagner, born: 1 October 1919 in Butler, DeKalb County, Indiana; father: Homer J. Wagner, born in Butler, Indiana, farmer; mother: Joy Belle McClellen, born in Butler, Indiana; married once before, divorced on 6 October 1938; married on 23 February 1940 in LaGrange County, Indiana.
  9. Obituary, legacy.com; Reba Belle (Wagner) Karn, died: 8 November 2003 in Lancaster, Texas; born: 1 October 1919 in Butler, Indiana. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of her parents, siblings, three husbands, and children.
  10. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
Second Generation
3. Martha Ann Crippen2 (George ‘Spunk’1), born 22 April 1943 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan;1, 2 died 7 September 2022 in Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan.2 Martha married, 3 November 1993 in Grant County, Indiana, Roger Dale Willcox2 (born 25 October 1948, parents not determined3).

  1. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Allegan County, Trowbridge, E.D. 3-77, Sheet No. 3, George E. Crippen, 40, Michigan, repairman, Allegan coop; wife Reba B. Crippen, 30, Indiana; daughter Fern E. Crippen, 8, Michigan; daughter Martha A. Crippen, 6, Michigan; son Vernon G. Crippen, 4, Indiana.
  2. Obituary, legacy.com; Martha Ann Willcox, died: 7 September 2022 in Paw Paw, Michigan; born; 22 April 1943 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of her parents, siblings, husband, children, and step-children.
  3. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.