Donald Crites, 91

Donald R. Crites, age 91, of Bryan, Ohio, died at 2:40 A.M. on Saturday, March 15, 2014, at Genesis HealthCare-Bryan Center, where he was a resident, after a brief illness. Mr. Crites served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II as a mechanic working on P-38s. He was a lifelong farmer, drove school bus for twenty-eight years for the Central Local School District and worked at the ASC office in Defiance, Ohio. As an active member of Union Chapel Church of God, he served the church as a Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher and as an Elder. He was a longtime volunteer at the Church Women United Thrift Shop in Bryan and was a member of the American Legion.

Donald R. Crites was born on June 30, 1922, in Bryan, Ohio, the son of Welcome and Corda (Harmon) Crites. He married Marybelle Krill on March 14, 1942, in Ney, Ohio and she preceded him in death on October 31, 2003.

Survivors include his children, Marie (Ernie) Munson, of Bonaire, Georgia, Donald E. (Diane) Crites, of Pompano Beach, Florida, Joan (Virgil) Wyse, of Bryan, and Jerry (Kathy “Kricket”) Crites, of West Unity, Ohio; thirteen grandchildren;, numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mavia VanWagner, of Defiance, Ohio. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Rinkle and Ruth Speiser.

Services will be held on Friday, March 21, 2014, at 11:00 A.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan, with Pastor Dennis Jones officiating. Interment will follow in Evansport Cemetery with grave side military rites. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2014, from 4:00-8:00 P.M. and for one hour prior to the service on Friday, beginning at 10:00 A.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, Bryan.

Memorials are requested to the Union Chapel Church of God.