J. Cal Crump

Copperton, Utah-Joseph Cal Crump, age 86, passed away due to plasma cell leukemia on January 9, 2016 at his home in Copperton, Utah. Cal was born on May 5, 1929 in Lark, Utah to R. Clyde Crump and Lavon Bagnell. He grew up in the mining town of Lark, attending Lark Elementary, Bingham Junior High and Bingham High Schools. Cal loved sports and was a great athlete. While he was at Bingham High School, he would play football, basketball and baseball for the Miners. He would be a member of three state championship teams, two in football and one in baseball. He would also play on three American Legion baseball championship teams. He graduated from Bingham High in 1947 and attended Brigham Young University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and Health in 1951. At BYU he was a four-year letterman in baseball and played on the Cougars' championship teams of 1948 and 1949. He would also play baseball for the Bingham team in a semi-pro league for several years.

He married his sweetheart, Gwen Sandstrom, on June 20, 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple. He had known Gwen all of her life as she grew up in the house across the street from his in Lark. They would enjoy 64 and-a-half years of marriage together having four children, Scott, Russell, Tammy and Cindy.

Cal was drafted into the Navy in 1951 and served his country during the Korean War. He was hired to be a teacher at Bingham High School in 1954. He would spend his entire 36-year educational career at Bingham where he worked as a teacher, coach, counselor and vocational coordinator. He was assigned to teach physical education, health, math and driver's education and would coach football, baseball, wrestling and tennis. He helped start Bingham's wrestling program in 1954. He retired from his beloved Bingham High in 1990. He was inducted into the Bingham High School Pay Dirt Club/ Hall of Fame for his lifetime of achievement and service. He was also made a member of the Bingham Coaches' Wall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to sports.

He took care of the Copperton Park for 55 years and took so much pride in its upkeep that he considered it part of his own backyard. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all his life, serving as Bishop, High Councilor, High Priests Group Leader and in numerous other church responsibilities. He served six years on the Copperton Town Council, rendered service for over 51 years as a member of the Bingham Canyon Lions Club and was a member of the Bingham American Legion Post 30.

He is survived by his wife, Gwen, two sons, Scott (Desiree) and Russell (Janice), two daughters, Tammy (Alan) Rindlisbacher and Cindy, 11 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren (one on the way), and brother Don (Joyce) Crump. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Dale, and a great granddaughter, Kaiya.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday January 16, 2016 at the Copperton Ward in Copperton, Utah. Friends may call Friday, January 15, 2016, 6:00-8:00 pm at Goff Mortuary, 8090 South State St., Midvale, Utah or at the Copperton Ward Saturday, 10:00-10:45 am prior to the services. Burial will be at the Herriman City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Bingham High Alumni Foundation for the Cal Crump Scholarship endowment fund.