Charles Crews

Charles “Charlie” Warren Crews, Jr., 95, of Staples passed away January 11, 2026. 

Funeral services were held January 16 at the United Methodist Church, Staples. 

Burial was at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Camp Ripley, Little Falls. 

Charlie was born September 27, 1930, to Helen (Jamison) Crews in Charlott, North Carolina. Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 17th birthday, with the consent of his mother, in Augusta, Georgia. Charlie traveled the world on the USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41), serving 22 years in the Navy. While serving, he met his wife, Pat, and they were married on February 20, 1954 in Alameda, California. Upon retiring from the Navy he went to work for 3M for 17 years ending his career as a division national sales manager. He also helped develop the national service center for 3M in St. Paul.

After his retirement he and Pat moved to Sylvan Shores near Staples. He couldn’t stay retired long and started Service Technology, teaching start-up companies how to service their product. Charlie also brought computer technology to Todd County, installing computers at businesses and training people how to use them. Through the Initiative Foundation, his computer training programs for seniors were set up under the Healthy Communitiies Partnership for three years.

Charlie was very involved with the United Methodist Church in Staples. He was a certified lay speaker and would preach at the assisted living and Lakewood Health System Care Center in Staples. He was a member of the Minnesota Annual Conference of the Methodist Church for 10 years.

Charlie is survived by one son, William “Bill” (Terri) Crews of Bemidji; one granddaughter, Chelsea (Alex) Patterson and two great-granddaughters, Rae Crews and Nina Patterson.

He was preceded in death by his wife Beatrice “Pat” Crews; one daughter, Teresa Crews; mother, Helen Crews and two sisters, Helen Owens and Dorthy Staples.

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