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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Alpha W. Crews Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 16, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated May 18, 2015 at 8:51 AM Posted May. 16, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated May 18, 2015 at 8:51 AM » Social News Alpha W. Crews Alpha W. Crews passed away gently of natural causes March 10, 2015 in her home in Palo Alto, Calif. Born July 10, 1923, in Medford, Ore. to Charles Alphon Whillock and Edith C. (Hamm) Whillock, Alpha Belle Whillock was the youngest of three children. Her brother, Charles Whillock and her sister, Edith Lee Federici are both deceased. As a young girl, she worked in her parents’ Golden Rule store. She loved meeting and helping people, and thoroughly enjoyed the business aspects of the work. This early experience contributed to her desire to study business in college. After working at the gas company to earn money to attend college, Alpha entered Oregon State College (now Oregon State University), where she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Kappa, and Mortar Board, and served as president of Alpha Lambda Delta. She graduated in 1947 with a degree in business administration. In the 1960s, she began to work again in the business world: first, for Bergman’s department store, and later on for the Syntex Corporation, from which she retired after many years of service as an Executive Secretary. During World War II, Alpha helped build airplanes as a "Rosie the Riveter” at the Boeing facility in Seattle, Wash. In June 1945, Alpha married Robert Wayne Crews, gave birth to two sons, and then moved to Los Alamos, N.M., in 1949 where Wayne continued his doctoral research in physics. In 1952, they moved to Palo Alto, Calif., where Alpha gave birth to two more children, a son and a daughter. Alpha lived in Palo Alto for the rest of her life. Alpha found great meaning and fellowship in her local church, where she and Wayne were loved and respected by many of their fellow congregants. Alpha was devoted to her family, her friends, and her faith, and she gave of herself freely and fully to all of them. Alpha’s life was also enriched by her love of music, a gift which she passed on to her children and grandchildren. She also loved reading, and after Wayne died in 2003, she enrolled in a “life stories" writing class and began composing her own memories for her children and grandchildren. Alpha was an incredibly loving and supportive mother, grandmother, and friend to all. Happiest when she was with people, her first and last thoughts were always about others: she was entirely selfless. Alpha always saw the good in everyone and imagined the best they could be. Alpha is survived by her children, Joel, Robin, Alden, and Christy; and by her grandchildren, Wyland and Chandler Crews, and Alexis and Christopher Crews-Holloway. She is, and will be, dearly loved and missed by everyone. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2015 at the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, 1985 Louis Road, Palo Alto, Calif. 94303. Donations in her name may be made to the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto’s Peace and Justice Committee (www.fccpa.org). DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 16, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated May 18, 2015 at 8:51 AM You may leave your condolences or share memories by signing the Guest Book here » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501