Edward Lynn Krebs of Redmond, WA passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014. He was born on December 6, 1946 in Beaumont, Texas to the late Dorothy and Sidney F. Krebs. Ed grew up in Beaumont, graduating from French High School in 1965, and attending Lamar University. He received his Bachelor of Violin Performance and Music Theory from the University of North Texas in 1970, his Master of Violin Performance and Music Theory from Eastern Washington University in 1974, and his Teaching Credentials from University of North Texas in 1975.
He married Susan Finnegan Krebs on August 27, 1972 at Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park and immediately traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico where he performed in the Guadalajara Symphony.
Although, trained in violin performance and vowing never to teach, Ed’s life took a different direction in 1973 when he became involved in The Success Through Strings program in Dallas, TX. The program was designed for children in the most economically deprived schools. Students having low test scores in reading and math were chosen to participate. They achieved academic success through the study of instrumental music. Ed soon found that teaching was his calling. He was comfortable working with any age group, toddler to adult, but his greatest joy was watching middle school children develop into young adults. In 1988 he joined the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District and developed acclaimed junior high orchestras. In 1994 the couple moved to the Seattle area where Ed’s Odle Middle School Orchestra in Bellevue was awarded the Washington State Honor Orchestra. Ed retired from The Bellevue School District in 2007. He continued to freelance in the Guadagnini String Quartet and area symphonies both in Texas and Washington. In the last couple of years he has had fun performing and arranging music for the Trilogy Singers of Redmond. Ed also enjoyed traveling by bicycle, VW van, or Winnebago Motorhome, visiting the U.S.A. and Canada coast to coast, and Europe. Ed was always passionate about automobiles. He was a charter member of the LeMay Automobile Museum in Tacoma, WA and served as a volunteer in the museum for the last two years.
Ed is survived by his wife, Susan Finnegan Krebs, and siblings: Col. John Scott (Mitzi) Krebs, USAF (Ret.) of Manassas, VA; Connie (Paul) Parsons of Alexandria, LA; and Michael (Janie) Krebs of Trinity, TX; and 6 nieces/nephews, and 9 great-nieces/nephews.
Ed’s enthusiasm, sense of humor, and love of life will be missed. A celebration of Ed’s life will be held on Saturday, July 26. Music will begin at 1:00pm in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, 1717 Bellevue Way NE, 98004. A reception will follow in the Church Narthex.
Remembrance donations will be used to purchase two violins for promising, economically disadvantaged students to use while participating in the Dallas or Seattle Youth Symphony. It would be appreciated if the gift were received by August 15th. Please notate specific donation information on the check.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
c/o Jamie Allen
Edward Krebs Memorial Violin
2301 Flora Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra
c/o Joseph Krebs (no relation)
Edward Krebs Memorial Violin
11065 Fifth Ave. NE, Suite A
Seattle, WA 98125