| Harold Martin's obituary reads: "Crymes, Harold Martin 91 07/12/1919 03/09/2011 Harold Martin Crymes, age 91, passed away March 9, 2011, in Yakima, after a brief illness. His daughter, Connie Swan of Yakima, was at his side. He was born July 12, 1919, in Edmonds, Wash., to John and Elizabeth Crymes. Harold's father was an evangelist for the American Sunday School Union and died when Harold was very young. The family then moved to St. Helens where his mother found a teaching job. Harold graduated from St. Helens High School with the class of 1937. He married Virginia Flippo July 1, 1942. That same year Harold enlisted in the U.S. Navy, working with the Seabees during World War II. He spent most of his service time in the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska on the island of Adak. After the war, he returned to St. Helens for a short time. In the late '40s, he moved his family to Portland where he worked a short time for the City of Portland as a plumbing inspector. He later started his own plumbing business, Glencullen Plumbing and Heating, which he operated until 1965. He had two brushes with death at work when he was buried twice by collapsing wet soil and was rescued by the Portland Fire Dept. Weary of the wet slog in Portland, he moved east to escape the rain in 1965 and to be close to his uncle, Warren Bunnell, of Clarkston, Wash. He spent the next 40 years of his life working in his cherry orchard, plumbing and building homes. In 1984 Harold suffered the loss of his eldest son, Dale, and six months later his wife, Virginia. In his later years, he delivered Meals-On-Wheels and spent his mornings at the coffee shop in downtown Clarkston with his friends where he was affectionately known as "John Trustworthy." In 2003, Harold moved to Orchard Park, an assisted living complex in Yakima, to be close to his daughter, Connie. He started the last chapter of his life, reveling in the social setting and spending countless hours visiting with those of his own age. Many times he spoke of how blessed he was to be able to live his final years in this manner. A generous man who valued honesty and compassion, Harold loved his work. He had an incredibly broad sense of humor and a passion for history. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; son, Dale; and sister, Dr. Ruth Helen Whitten of Honolulu. He is survived by a brother, Gordon of Huntington Beach, Calif.; daughter, Connie Swan and her husband, Mike, of Yakima; son, David and his wife, Gloria, of Portland; grandsons, Andrew Swan of Zillah, Wash.; Barry Swan of Omak, Wash.; and Grant Crymes of Portland. There will be a service at a future date for the family at the grave site in Portland." |
