Doris Crippen

Doris Crippen, long-time resident of Hill City, Kansas, passed away peacefully September 17, 2017, at Evergreen Care Center in Owasso, Oklahoma, at the age of 87. She was born January 27, 1930, in Hays, Kansas, to the late Jess and Theresa (Feit) Binder. Doris grew up in Hays and later married Donald E. Crippen, July 15, 1951. They were married for 55 years before Don passed away October 9, 2006. Their marriage was blessed with three sons: Galen, Jerry, and Jeff. Doris was a full-time mom while completing her degree in education at Fort Hays Kansas State College. After graduation Doris taught special education and first grade at Hill City Elementary School for many years. Her love, kindnesss, and genuine compassion for her students is her legacy as an educator. Others who were fortunate enough to know her recognized those same heartfelt traits. Often when she saw former students, they mentioned how much they loved her telling “Rin Tin Tin” stories to them. In her spare time and after retirement she enjoyed playing bridge or pinochle, solving crossword puzzles, and drinking coffee or tea with her friends. Doris was preceded in death by her parents Jess and Theresa Binder Martin and her husband, Don. Survivors left to cherish her memory are her children: Galen Crippen and his wife Sheryl of Sharon Springs, Kansas; Jerry Neeb-Crippen and his wife Ursula of Cologne, Germany; and Jeff Crippen of Owasso, Oklahoma; her eight grandchildren: Jason Crippen and his wife Katie of Wichita, Kansas; Matthew Crippen and his wife Tara of Wichita; Robert Crippen of Phoenix, Arizona; Juliane Neeb-Crippen and Janita Neeb-Crippen of Cologne, Germany; Hannah Lemon and her husband Tom of Kansas City, Kansas; Todd Crippen and his wife Valerie of Kansas City, Kansas; and Nicholas Crippen of Manhattan, Kansas; her six great grandchildren: Brennan Crippen, Ellie Crippen, Serena Crippen, and Ben Crippen all of Wichita; Rose Lemon and Meredith Lemon of Kansas City, Kansas; her sister Mildred Rosell of Seattle, Washington; and eleven nieces and nephews. Doris was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, trusted confidant and true friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.