Kenneth “Dean” Crutch
Kenneth "Dean" Crutch, 76, of Daytona Beach, FL, passed away peacefully in his sleep at Halifax Hospice Volusia County in Port Orange, FL on Sunday, February 2, 2014.
Dean was born to William and Gertrude (McDonald) Crutch on June 29, 1937 in Bryan, Ohio. He graduated Bryan High School in 1955 and met and married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Mary Beth Tietjens Crutch (now deceased) in Napoleon, Ohio. He graduated in 1961 from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor degree of Civil Engineering and was on the diving team as well as a member of the marching band,"TBDBITL", The Best Damn Band in the Land. In fact he graduated on crutches due to a diving accident and it made headlines in the Columbus Dispatch, "Crutch on crutches" as he hobbled up to receive his diploma. He played the euphonium / trombone all 5 years during college and was 1st chair as well. He marched in many of the infamous and incomparable "Script Ohio's." One of his favorite memories was traveling to the 1958 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA (via train) with the infamous Coach Woody Hayes.
After retirement, Dean would often travel with the OSU Alumni band to many events including trips to Japan, Germany, Hawaii, and Alaska with either one of his daughters or his best buddy, Karl Anderson in tow. He and Mary Beth moved to Winter Park, FL in 1973 and he was also one of the original founders of "The Ohio State University Alumni group of Central Florida." Dean continued to travel back to Columbus, OH each year for the alumni game and was able to march with the band during pre-game / halftime shows up until a few years ago and this band doesn't slow down for the old folks! He would practice marching for several months in advance to get ready for the performance each year.
Dean had several jobs as a Civil Engineer in Ohio but also accepted a position for Aramco Oil in Saudi Arabia from 1977-1979 where he worked at a desalination plant. Mary Beth joined him for global travels during and after he left this position. Upon arrival back in the States, he accepted a position with Russell & Axon Engineers in Daytona Beach, FL and then the position of "City Construction Engineer" of Daytona Beach from which he retired in the year 2000. He was a member of, "The American Society of Civil Engineers", "The University Club of Orlando", "The Ohio State Alumni Club" and "The Leesburg Quarterback Club." He loved golfing, "board meeting" Friday night poker parties, his childhood dog, "Inky" and anything Buckeye related.
Dean has many life long friends from both Ohio and Florida. He would know every nurse and Doctor in all offices and would always remember them all by bringing back candy and goodies from all of his travels. He loved his job so much at the city, he would say, "I would do this job even if they didn't pay me."
Dean was also pre-deceased by his granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth Tacner in 2010 (age 15) and unfortunately his health took a turn for the worse upon her passing as she also played the euphonium in the band at Winter Park High School and her greatest dream was to play in The Ohio State University marching band like her Grandfather. "Pee Paw" would take her to the alumni games and let her help in the band room with setup and meet all of the staff that all came to love her as well.
Dean is survived by his "aunt Katie", Katherine (McDonald) Howard (Venice, FL), brother Calvin Crutch (Carolyn) Defiance, OH, sister Connie Crutch Stallter (Bob) Perrysburg, OH, daughters; Jennifer Crutch Tacner Daytona Beach, FL and, Amy Crutch Copher (Neiman) Daytona Beach, FL & Saint Simons Island, GA, brother-in-law, Henry Tietjens (Ohio), grandson William "Scott" Perrin, Jr. (Mt. Pleasant, SC), granddaughter Mary Beth Tacner (Orlando, FL) several cousins, nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Memorial Services will be held at Lohman Funeral Home Daytona Beach, FL. Visitation with the family will begin at 1:00 pm with the Service to follow at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 1, 2014. The family will also hold a celebration of life at the Daytona Beach Golf Club directly following the service.
