Glenn Ellis Crellin

Glenn Ellis Crellin, 66, of Seattle, former head of the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at WSU Pullman from 1993-2012, died May 18, 2017 at his second home in Charlotte, North Carolina with his family by his side.

An only child, Crellin was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Amos and Estelle Crellin, both deceased. He was raised in Oskaloosa, Iowa and graduated from Drake University in Des Moines with a B.A. in economics. He went on to graduate with an M.A. in economics from the University of Maryland. He became an Analyst with the Bureau of Economic Analysis in Washington, D.C., where he developed a new statistical model of housing starts. He then went on to work for the Research Division of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) for the next 16 years, rising to the position of Vice President. It was while at NAR that he developed the Housing Affordability Index, which endures to this day.

In 1993, Crellin took on a new challenge, leading the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at WSU. In 2012, the WCRER merged with the Runstad Center at the University of Washington where Glenn remained until his retirement in 2015. At both WSU and UW Glenn taught students in Real Estate and often commented that working with these students was a highlight of his career.

Crellin was appointed by the attorney general to join a blue-ribbon committee to recommend the allocation of funds under the foreclosure settlement with big mortgage lenders. He was honored by the Washington Real Estate Commission for expanding their understanding of their industry. In 2014 he was honored by a resolution in the Washington House of Representatives for his service to the state, and later in the year his long career in Real Estate was celebrated by the 400 people in attendance at the annual Runstad Center Leadership dinner.

In 2012 the WCRER merged with the Runstad Center at the University of Washington where Glenn remained until his retirement in 2015. At both Washington State and the University of Washington Glenn taught students in Real Estate – and often commented that working with these students was a highlight of his career.

Diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer in 2013, Glenn spent the last 41/2 years celebrating life by traveling to Europe and throughout the United States with his wife Melonnie, and spending time with his beloved children and grandchildren, as well as continuing his genealogical research. The researcher in him melded his love of family with a love of research and traced his family roots back to the 1600s.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Melonnie Crellin, his children Justin Crellin (and wife Sue) of Miranda, California, Kimberly Crellin Winston (and husband Kevin) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and his grandchildren Miles Crellin, Jasmine Crellin, Kevin Winston, Jr. and Kamden Winston.

The family requests donations be made to the Institute for Prostate Cancer Research at www.fredhutch.org/ipcr.