Charles Johnston Crump, 57, died on Nov. 29, 2012 at his home in Forest Park after a struggle with cancer. He was born March 25, 1955 in St. Louis, Mo. and grew up in Winnetka. ‘Charlie’ attended New Trier East High School, Knox College and University of Arizona, graduating with a degree in Landscape Architecture.
He was an accomplished planner and designer who, for over thirty years, worked on a wide range of local and national projects including streetscapes, transit facilities, trails, parks and recreation facilities, reclamation, garden design and sacred spaces, as well as residential, industrial and commercial site planning. He helped clients and users to think about and then join together in celebrating the uniqueness of their community, their shared values and their common aspirations, such as his recent work with the communities on the Calumet-Sag Trail. He was employed by URS Corporation as a principal urban planner, most recently completing the design and installation of the Congress Street Streetscape in Chicago. Locally, he served as the Chairman of the Forest Park Historic Preservation Commission.
As a friend and mentor to many, Charlie devoted his life to bringing beauty and happiness to others. He most loved travelling and attending musical and cultural events with his wife, Susan, as well as a good game of golf. A gifted conversationalist, he enjoyed spending time in the company of others from whom he could converse deeply, learn from and share.
He was husband of Susan Reid Purdie, son of Margaret Johnston Crump of Glenview and the late Charles Lester Crump, brother of Abigail Fasanella (Robert) of Scituate, Mass. and of Jennifer Crump of Forest Park, son-in-law of Doris Purdie, brother-in-law of David Purdie, Chicago, and Thomas Purdie, La Caruna, Spain. Charlie was uncle of Elaine (Lieut. Brandon ) Buehler, Cpl. Rocky Coladarci and Cecily Fasanella.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, from 4-8 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 South Marion St. Oak Park, IL. The Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 8, 2012 at Ascension Church, 808 South East Avenue, Oak Park. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, Lisle, IL 60532 are appreciated. For funeral information: 708-383-3191 or www drechslerbrownwilliams.com.
