Willene Crampton passed away Sept. 29, 2010 in Bend, Ore.

Willene was born July 29, 1926 in Spokane to William and Etta (Smiley) Fellows and spent her childhood there. Her mother passed away when Willene was a teenager finishing her last year at North Central High School, where she was a football princess. After high school she moved with her father to El Paso, Texas, and attended college. She returned to Spokane, riding the train from Los Angeles with her sister Priscilla, were she worked in a doctor’s office and lived for a time with her sister and sister’s husband Herschel Lindsey. On April 6, 1947, Willene married George Harris Crampton in Spokane.

Willene and George moved to Pullman, where George pursued a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Washington State University. Willene worked at WSU and also attended college. In 1950, Willene and George moved to Rochester, N.Y., where George pursued his doctorate at University of Rochester and Willene worked at a Rochester hospital. After George received his degree he entered the U.S. Army as a career officer, first being stationed at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. Willene loved being a military wife and was instrumental in George’s success as a military officer. George retired as a full colonel. Willene enjoyed the travel, the many places they were stationed, and the social and volunteer activities that went with being a military officer’s wife. Willene and George had two children during these military years. William Andrew was born in Rochester on Dec. 24, 1951 and Colleen Ann was born on Sept. 22, 1955 in Kensington, Md.

After George retired from the military, Willene and George moved to Ohio where George worked as a professor at Wright State University in Dayton. Willene enjoyed Ohio and was active in many volunteer activities, most notably the Red Cross where she volunteered in post-tornado assistance over the years. Retiring from academia, George and Willene moved in 1985 to Oak Harbor where Willene was active in the community, most notably serving as a volunteer for Planned Parenthood. Willene and George were also active in the Island County Republican Party. Living on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound, Willene and George always owned a boat and Willene was a skilled and excellent crewing companion for George. In 2003, Willene and George moved to Bend, Ore. They lived for a time on Awbrey Butte and then moved to Aspen Ridge retirement home.

Willene was preceded in death by George.

Willene is survived by her children: son William (wife, Dianne) of Bend and daughter Colleen McEvoy (husband, Dave) of Pittsburgh, Penn.; her sister Priscilla Lindsey of Spokane; three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A private memorial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery where Willene will join George.