Robert Stratton Crice, “The Boy from Bandana” who grew up to become a man who traveled the globe, embarked on his final trip to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. He took 87 laps around the sun.
Born August 5, 1936, on a farm with no electricity outside LaCenter, Kentucky. He found his way to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to secure a degree in Electrical Engineering at MIT.
Thereafter, with stops in Ohio, New York, and at last New Jersey, he made a career with his only employer, AT&T, which afforded him a variety of roles in which he excelled and opportunities to visit countries all over the world in the course of his work. He retired at age 53, and returned to his roots in Western Kentucky, but continued to travel the world for pleasure. A man of deep Christian faith, insatiable curiosity, in awe of the vastness and beauty of Creation, Robert always strove to apply his talents to the fullest in all his endeavors at work, at church, and at home.
Robert was aided in his journey in life by his wife, Anna (Powell), a high school classmate with whom he was smitten over a mix up in the ice cream sundae order she prepared for him at the drug store where she worked, and without whom his life would have been far less rich. She kept him organized and humble for 58 years, and together they raised two boys, Rodney and Roger, equipping them well to be successful in their own right. When Anna’s health deteriorated, their roles were reversed and Robert tended to her needs with an engineer’s precision until he no longer could. Anna preceded Robert in death in 2013, Robert was fortunate to have found love twice. Out of grief a new partnership was forged with another high school classmate, Karlyn (Smith-Spencer). They shared ten years together as husband and wife enjoying each other’s company deeply. Robert was embraced by her large family as one of their own, and he, in turn, was delighted to be their Pappy. Karlyn cared for Robert fiercely in his last years and was by his side when he went to his eternal rest.
Robert was also preceded in death by his parents Gene and Hazel (Griffith) Crice, and his brother, Sammie Gene.
In addition to Karlyn, he is survived by son Rodney, his spouse Faye, and their children Brandon (and Luna), and Cory (and Katie); Roger and his spouse Darrin; his brother Kenny and sister Martha Lou Steinbeck; step-daughters Jane (and Jim) Melrose, Barbara (and Chip) Higgins, and Karlyn’s many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A celebration of Robert’s life will be held at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Jim Melrose officiating. Urn burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in La Center, Kentucky.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. Saturday, February 3, 2024 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in Robert’s memory may be made to American Heart Association, Kentucky Region, 240 Whittington Parkway, Louisville, KY 40222, or Christ United Methodist Church, 508 Franklin Rd. Franklin, TN 37069, or to the charity of your choice.
Share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.
