Roger Alan Crislip

Roger Alan Crislip, 83, went peacefully to heaven January 30, 2022 after a lengthy decline from Alzheimer’s disease.  Roger was born March 19, 1938 in Tallmadge, Ohio at the family home on Northeast Avenue. He graduated from Tallmadge High School and held a Master of Education degree from Kent State University.  After five years teaching woodshop and drafting at Springfield High School, he introduced the OWE (Occupational Work Experience) program at Cloverleaf Local Schools, teaching there one year. Roger retired from teaching in 1992 after 22 years with the OWE program at Wadsworth High School and a career that included leadership of the Wadsworth Education Association. He was known by students and colleagues alike for his warmth, humor and dedication to the worth of each and every student.

A gifted and relentless craftsman, Roger updated and remodeled the farmhouse where the Crislip family lived for more than 30 years, gardened, raised livestock, and hosted annual Independence Day family reunions for the immediate and extended Crislip family. In 1996 he and wife Joyce bought a century home in downtown Seville which he, again, renovated and expanded, and where they lived, gardened, and continued hosting family gatherings for the rest of his life.

Roger was an avid golfer and bowler and long-time member of First Baptist Church, Seville, where he served as deacon, sang in the choir and taught the post-high school Sunday School class for many years. At Camp Koinonia (Baptist-affiliated) near Geneva, Ohio, he donated untold hours to maintenance projects and built one of the cabins.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Wm. Doy “WD” and Mary (Elwood) Crislip, brothers Donald, William, Edward and Robert and step-grandson, Kristoffer.  He is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Joyce, daughters Leslie (Nielsen), Jenifer (Faircloth) and Kimberly (Payne), sister Marie (Carter) in Cookeville, Tennessee, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held at Murray Funeral Home in Creston, Ohio on both Saturday, February 5th from 2:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. and Sunday, February 6th from 1:00p.m. – 2:00p.m. The funeral service is at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at 2:00p.m. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

Memorial gifts can be made to Camp Koinonia 6810 Cork-Cold Springs Rd. Geneva, Ohio 44041 or to give online www.christiancampohio.org.