Eldon Crissman Obituary

When little Eldon first arrived in Colorado Springs (pop. 23,000) in 1923, only 5 stop-lights operated year-round. Eldon Paul Crissman was born in St. John, Kansas, September 17, 1918, youngest of three children of Ruth and Glen Crissman. In 1919, the family moved to a ranch adjacent to the Sand Creek Massacre site north of Chivington, CO. The family moved to El Paso County in 1923, living on ranches near Yoder and Peyton. Moving to Manitou Springs in 1934, Chris graduated from high school in 1937. He was a good athlete and on the high school basketball team even though he was only 5'8". The family moved to the south suburban side (at that time) of Colorado Springs in 1939 after purchasing the Tom Boy Drive-in on South Nevada Avenue. Chris worked while attending Colorado College until joining the Navy during World War II. In 1941, he married Ramona McNeil and re-located to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, and subsequently to Barren Field, Foley, Alabama. When he wasn't involved with training Canadian and US pilots, Chris learned pinocle and golf from the base pros, enjoying golf in later years. Returning from wartime duties, Chris resumed both his studies at Colorado College and worked in the family restaurant business. In 1955, he and Ramona bought Chris' Restaurant which became a fixture on South Nevada Avenue and operated it until 1985. They raised two sons, John Scott Crissman of Reston, VA., and William (Bill) Eldon Crissman, Colorado Springs. Ramona Crissman died in 1991, after a lengthy illness. In 1992, he married Gladys Triplett and acquired the Mount Washington Apartments. He continued to co-manage these apartments with his son William until Chris' death, April 22, 2010. He enjoyed traveling with Gladys, including trips to Barbados and Hawaii until her death in 1999. At 84, he and Bill took a train trip across the European continent visiting England, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Scandinavia, and Russia. Chris saw many changes during his lifetime in Colorado Springs and he always loved the city and the Front Range as a great place to work and raise a family. The last surviving charter member of the Cheyenne Mountain Lions Club, he received two Lion lifetime achievement awards for service. At death, he was a member of the Security Lions Club. Other family survivors include grand-daughter, Jill Crissman of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Jean McElvain, of Colorado Springs; and many nieces, nephews, and 2 step-daughters. His brother, Ellison, of Vinita, OK, died in 2006. Internment will take place at a family service at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver. Memorial Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, Saturday, July 24, 2010, at 10AM, Reverend John Stevens officiating. Suggested donations: Security Lions Club, PO Box 5191, Security, CO 80911 (for the Lions' Summer Camp for blind children); and First Presbyterian Church, 219 East Bijou, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (for the Deacons' Fund).