OBITUARY : Jack Crippen; Civic Leader, Ex-Councilman

Former City Councilman Jack Crippen, who died Tuesday of cancer, will be buried today.

A longtime El Monte resident, Crippen, who was 68, served on the city Planning Commission before his 1968 election to the City Council, where he served five terms.

Crippen ran for the city treasurer’s post this year but was defeated April 14 by Henry Velasco.

In a tribute during Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Pat Wallach said Crippen played a major role in the community and “touched the lives of everyone” in El Monte.

Crippen was born in Gordon, Neb., and his family moved to Baldwin Park in 1927. A short time later, he and his 11 brothers and sisters were orphaned when their parents died. Crippen spent his youth in the Voorhis School for Boys, a former orphanage in San Dimas.

After serving in the Navy as a radio operator during World War II, Crippen settled in El Monte and founded Crippen Ambulance Service. He became active in community affairs, joining the PTA, the Rotary Club, the Lions Club and the Elks Club, among other groups.

For 23 years, he was a volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club of the San Gabriel Valley and helped start the Greater El Monte Girls Club. He also was on the board of directors of the Mid-Valley Mental Health Council.

During his years on the council, he spearheaded creation of the El Monte Senior Citizens Center and the Meals-on-Wheels program for senior citizens. He also raised money for medical supplies for Zamora, Mexico, El Monte’s sister city.

Survivors include his wife, Donna; three daughters, Sharon Pennington and Sheila Gale, both of El Monte, and Penny Infante of Mexico City; a brother, Kenny Crippen of Riddle, Ore., and seven grandchildren.

Services will begin at 10 a.m. at Valley Community Church, 3039 Santa Anita Ave. Interment will follow at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.