Eugene W. Crider

Eugene W. Crider, 91, of Lancaster, PA passed away on December 21, 2011, at the Apostle Center of Homestead Village. Born in Camp Hill, PA, April 20, 1920, he spent his childhood in Mt. Joy and adulthood in Lancaster. Gene was the son of William and Gertrude Crider and for 52 years the husband of the late Estelle Crider. Surviving are two daughters, Lisa C. Hill (Hugh) of Beaufort, SC, and Christina C. Miller of Lancaster; a son E. William Crider, Jr. (Patricia) of Lancaster; a brother John (Kitty) of Mount Joy; seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, three nephews, and one niece.

Gene was a 1939 graduate of Mt. Joy HS and attended Franklin and Marshall Academy. He was a veteran of WWII serving in the North Africa, Italian and Corsica campaigns as a Master Sergeant Flight Chief in the Army Air Corps. He started his career as a wholesale manager with the Sico Oil Co and retired from that same company in 1986 after also working with Sinclair Oil Co, BP Oil Co and the Bob Lutz Co in Ephrata.

Gene’s greatest passion was sports. He participated on winning high school basketball and tennis teams and continued to play on winning military teams during WWII. He coached and played for Mt. Joy Legion Baseball team, officiated all levels of soccer and basketball, but his favorite sport was tennis. He won the PIAA District Three singles three times, Lancaster County Men’s singles four times and the men’s doubles eight times, Red Rose Doubles twice, York White Rose Open Doubles as well as the Lancaster Mixed Doubles several times. He volunteered as President of Hamilton Park Association, directed Senior Olympic Games, served on several boards in leadership positions for sports associations, and founded and coached for 19 years what he considered to be the highlight of his sports career, the Saturday morning baseball league teaching fundamentals to seven and eight year olds.

Recognition for his involvement in community and sports include being among the first inductees in the Lancaster County Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991, Wheatland Sertoma Club’s “Service to Mankind” Award in 1978, and induction in the Susquehanna Valley Chapter Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. Present memberships include the Hamilton Park UCC, where he served as deacon for six years, and the Mt. Joy American Legion.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 26, 2011, at the Hamilton Park UCC, 1210 Maple Avenue, Lancaster, PA at 11 am with Rev. Cathy Shiley officiating. Family will receive friends at the church from 10 to 11 prior to the service. Interment will be immediately following the service in the church Memorial Garden.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Hospice of Lancaster County, Homestead Village or help a child attend a local sports camp.