David Stanford Crosslin, a proud veteran of the United States Navy, passed away on Monday, March 7th, 2022, in Grand Junction, CO surrounded by his loving family. 

 

Born on March 11th, 1951 in Beaumont, Texas, to Jack and Mary Crosslin. He lost his father during the Korean War, and was raised by his mother in Choctaw, and Midwest City, Oklahoma. He then lost his mother on July 3rd, 1968 when he was only 17 years of age. 

 

He enlisted in  the U.S. Navy July 1974. Assigned USS Reeves. Deployed to Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Africa, and the Persian Gulf. Participated in the last battle of the Vietnam War (recovery of the Mayaguez.) Assigned to USS Reclaimer. Remained in the Navy Reserve while completing BA at CU Boulder. Returned to active duty, went to Officer Candidate School. Assigned to USS Worden, USS Shasta, USS Mauna Kea, and USS Oldendorf. Participated in the war between Iran and Iraq in the Persian Gulf, 1985. 

 

He was assigned to the Environmental Office, NAF Atsugi, Japan. Played a role in the five-year effort to shut down the Yakuza owned and operated Enviro Tech Japan Co., Ltd., an industrial waste processing plant that was poisoning US Navy dependents, producing clusters of cancers and birth defects.

 

He retired from the Navy in 1999. In my father's own words, “I did some good, and nobody died on my watch."

 

He was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan where he met our mother and raised his children for 19 years. He worked as a translator for Pokèmon and other Japanese companies. He also enjoyed teaching English to his Japanese students at our home. 

 

He loved learning new things especially science, music, fine arts, and nature. His true love was fencing above all. He competed nationally in the sport of fencing where he won multiple medals and awards. When the cast crew of “The Princess Bride” came to CU Boulder,  David taught Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya) moves for his role in the movie. He continued to bestow his love for fencing by teaching his grandson. 

 

Our father was a well-traveled man. He loved nature so he wanted to share his love with his children. He would show his love by taking them to places such as: zoos, aquariums, rose gardens, the wilderness etc…He enjoyed the sound of silence and the beauty which came from the Earth.

 

David was an amazing husband, father, and a grandfather. A man that showed unconditional love, patience, and the will to keep on fighting for life, even at his last moments. 

 

David survived by: His spouse Mariko Crosslin, and his 6 children, Elizabeth Marie  (Nathaniel) Stobbe, Alexander (Mai) Crosslin, Vernon Crosslin, Elisa (Arthur) Hervey, Joseph Crosslin, Theresa Crosslin, and his 11 grandchildren, Christopher, Benedict, Mary, Alexander, Seira, Leon, Louis, Sean, Emma, Elijah, and Eva. 

 

Memorial Service will be held on March 15th, 2022, at 10 a.m., at Veteran's Memorial Cemetary on 2830 Riverside Pkwy Grand Junction, CO 81501.