Herman Dale Crabtree Sr.
L&G
Lewis & Gillum Funeral Homes
28 Harding Ave., Jackson, Ohio 45640
(p) 740-286-2010
Herman Dale Crabtree, Sr. passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, December 28 at the age of 83. He was born March 25, 1939, in Oak Hill to Clarence and Daisy (McCain) Crabtree. The ties to Oak Hill are strong as three McCain sisters married three Crabtree brothers creating a prolific family tree.
Herman was one of twelve siblings. He was a car enthusiast and loved to collect and work on Mustangs. In his younger years he was an avid drag racer and in his later years loved to tell stories about racing. It was a joy for him to run in to some of those he raced with long ago. He had a great love of horses and at one time helped train them. He closely followed harness racing and for many years would attend races at Scioto Downs or Lebanon Raceway. He picked up golfing later in life and enjoyed time on the links with friends and family. He also looked forward to fall weekends so that he could watch horse races, Buckeye Football and the Bengals.
Herman held several jobs throughout the years and started his career with Zenith; a position that took him to Chicago for a few years. When the Company moved his department to Tokyo, he was asked to relocate and continue his position there. He decided to move back to Jackson County where he found a passion for adult education. He held a bachelor’s degree from Rio Grande College and a masters from Marshall University. He taught first at Manpower Training Center and then at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility and retired from Ross Correctional Institution where he helped prisoners obtain their GEDs. In 1993, he served as a hostage negotiator during the Lucasville riot. Herman was never one to sit still and after his retirement he went back to work at ABLE to help adults get their GED.
Herman is survived by his wife of 35 years, Vicki (nee Keith), who shared his love of Buckeye and Bengal football and made him a UK basketball fan. He is also survived by a sister Shelba (Sonny) Harless; brothers, Hayden Crabtree and Darrell (Marcia) Crabtree; children, H.D. (Amanda) Crabtree, Erin (Jarod) Trimble, and Samantha (Dusty Nicholson) Crabtree; beloved grandchildren who called him Pop Pop, Evan, Jake, Joe and Ethan Crabtree; Claire, Nora and Ben Trimble; Shayleigh Fox and Brynleigh Nicholson; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Mary Elizabeth Gordon, Edgar Crabtree, Warren Crabtree, Arnold Crabtree, Rowena Barnhart, Willard (Billy) Crabtree, Alvin Crabtree, and infant sister Esther Crabtree.
Per Herman’s wishes a private service was held for family on Friday, December 30 at the Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home of Jackson. Donations may be made in Herman’s memory to the Jackson County Heart Support Group, 215 Broad St., Jackson, OH 45640. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisgillum.com.
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