Stanley Gordon Crippen, a resident of Wildomar, California, died on December 21, 2025 at the age of 73 at his home surrounded by his wife, Mary Crippen, his six children, many of his 36 grandchildren, and other family and friends. Stan was born in Pasadena, California on November 13, 1952. He and his brother, Bob, were raised by their parents, Bill and Pegge, on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. Stan attended elementary school in Corona Del Mar, then Lincoln Junior High School, and later graduated from Corona del Mar High School in 1970. Though he often went fishing with his brother and dad, baseball was his greatest love, but that would soon change.
Stan would meet the love of his life, Mary, in 1971 on a ferry boat at Balboa Island where Stan was a boat pilot and Mary was a passenger. As shared by Stan in the famous “UBB” story, once on the ferry, Mary asked if she could stay until the sun sets and Stan quickly responded, “Baby, you can stay until the moon sets!” Thus began Mom’s free ride and an eternity of beach walks and sunsets together. Their foundation was their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ which influenced them to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shortly after they had met. Stan and Mary continued their courtship and early marriage years in the Newport Beach area and were married in February 1973 in the Los Angeles California Temple of the Church. Stan played college baseball at multiple schools in southern California until graduating from Chapman University in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences. He then began his teaching career at Mater Dei High School in nearby Santa Ana, California.
In 1975, Stan and Mary moved to Lake Elsinore, California when Stan received a job teaching at Elsinore High School. For the next 33 years at Elsinore, he taught US History, Psychology, and Advanced Placement Government until retiring in 2008. With his Life Psychology class, he initiated the Special Prom, an annual event for students with special needs. He was awarded Teacher of the Year from the Riverside County Office of Education in 1998. He also enjoyed coaching sports at the school and in the community during that time. Stan received a master’s degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling (MFCC) from California Baptist University in 1985, qualifying him to also work as a Marriage and Family Therapist for more than a decade. Though highly successful in his professional work, Stan and Mary’s six children, 36 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren were the central focus of his life and the greatest source of satisfaction.
After his retirement, and due to Stan’s natural willingness to serve others, Elsinore High School created the Stan Crippen Outstanding Service to School Award that honors two graduates each year for outstanding service. The school’s EHS Tiger Foundation honored Stan as the first recipient of a Tiger Court for being recognized as one who has made significant contributions to the school. Stan continued to share his teaching expertise as a consultant for the Riverside County Office of Education from 2008-2025, engaging with and training teachers, administrators, and staff throughout the county. As a professional capstone, Stan was elected by the community and honored to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Lake Elsinore Unified School District from 2010 to 2021.
Stan shared his testimony of Jesus Christ with literally thousands of youth and adults throughout the United States as a speaker for Brigham Young University’s Continuing Education department and the Church Educational System through its Education Week, Especially for Youth, and Know Your Religion programs. This allowed Stan and his family to travel across the United States for these assignments, often just taking Mary or one of his children for individual time together. His talks were both entertaining and inspiring as Stan shared the story of meeting Mary, the “Ultimate Beach Babe (UBB)” as well as dating and relationship advice, parenting topics and developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One of his greatest joys was when he and Mary had the privilege of serving as missionaries for the Church from 2021-22 at Brigham Young University-Hawaii Campus in Laie, Hawaii where Stan taught religion classes and Mary served as a nurse. Stan was a faithful servant in his church community and loved counseling and teaching those he served.
Stan’s life was epitomized by service and ministering in a personal, one-on-one way with his family, students, clients, and community members. He had a unique gift for helping people see their own value and importance. He seemed to always be especially present with whomever he was speaking or visiting, listening intently and loving without judgment. Stan left others feeling motivated to strengthen their faith (“Pray about it!”), improve their lives and develop their relationships with God and others.
Stan was preceded in death by his parents, William and Pegge. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary (Sampson) Crippen, of Wildomar; his older brother, Robert Crippen, and wife, Paula, of Mono, Ontario, Canada, and their three children; his son, Chris Crippen, and wife, Sherelda (Gleason), of Elk Ridge, Utah, and their eight children and spouses; his daughter, Carrie Olsingch, and husband, Harvey, of Wildomar, and their six children; his daughter, Angie Southwick, and husband, Roy, of Lake Elsinore, and their seven children and spouses; his daughter, Katie Hopoate, and husband, Tino, of Provo, Utah, and their five children; his daughter, Amelia Low, and husband, Justin, of Cardston, Alberta, Canada, and their seven children; and his son, Cody Crippen, and wife, Jessica (Brett), of Lake Elsinore, and their three children. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on January 3, 2026 at 2 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 18220 Dexter Avenue in Lake Elsinore. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All are invited to attend. Services will be streamed via Zoom, Meeting ID: 925 959 2595, Passcode: Faith.
https://zoom.us/j/9259592595?pwd=dmR5dURHYTZZSHBqNSt6R3IzWExUdz09&omn=96968413015Funeral services are being conducted by the Church and arranged by Murrieta Valley Funeral Home; 24651 Washington Avenue; Murrieta, CA 92562
