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Westville - Funeral services for John R. Crittenden, 87, of Tahlequah will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 2, 2002, in Hart Funeral Home Chapel of Westville with Rev. Ron Rice officiating. Burial will following Oakhill Cemetery, Siloam Springs, Ark., under the direction of Hart Funeral Home.
Serving as pallbearers are Dan Collins, Billy Dean Hamlin, Eric Keys, Jackie Smith, Dean Stevens, Ron Syler, Scott Syler and Dwight Watson. Honorary pallbearers are Woodrow Bowles, Glen Bullard, Duke Carlton, Luther Ledbetter, Gene Perry, Luke Smith and Cleve Alberty.
John R. Crittenden youngest of four children born to the late Martin M. and Pearl (Haws) Crittenden, was born Oct. 1, 1914, in Westville, and died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002 in Tahlequah.
John graduated from Westville High School in 1932 and entered Northeastern State Teacher's College. At the end of one year, he qualified for an elementary teaching certificate. He began his teaching career in Adair County rural schools, Pleasant Hill (Hern), Washington (Skelly), Taylor and Wagnon, and during these years, continued attending Northeastern, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Science, July 29, 1940.
World War II was impending and John entered the military service in the U. S. Army July 8, 1941. After VE Day, he remained in Germany for six months, during which time he was in charge of operations of a captured German military supply depot in Zeitz, Germany, which furnished medical supplies to the German hospitals. He was discharged from the Army Feb. 22, 1946.
In August 1947, John returned to Westville and to his chosen career as a science teacher at Westville High School, a career that spanned the next 33 years. During those years, he served in various capacities in the school system, such as the elementary, junior high and senior high school principal, and the last 10 years had the privilege of being high school counselor. Crittenden retired May 15, 1980.
One of the most important events of his life was his marriage to Marquerite Louise Syler on July 17, 1949. She also taught in the Westville school system. In June 1950, they both enrolled in the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., and fulfilled their requirements for master of science degrees.
Marguerite and John resided on a farm near the Arkansas order for many years, later moving to Westville. There they resided until retiring to Go Ye Village in Tahlequah.
John was a member of the Trail of Tears Association, the Cherokee National Historical Society, Oklahoma Retired Teachers Association, Tahlequah Senior Citizens and the First Baptist Church of Tahlequah.
Over the years, John R. Crittenden received many honors from the citizens of Westville; in fact, a small tennis complex and park were named in his honor, and he was the firs recipient of the Most Valued Citizen Award by the Westville community in 2000. He was also a member of the Goingsnake District Heritage Association, serving as its president and vice-president, and served on the Westville Water Board. It is to be said that he was one of the most well-liked and respected teachers in the district.
John was preceded in death by his parents; three siblings who died in infancy, Ithel, Clifford M. and Samuel; and his wife Marguerite in 1998.
He is survived by Emilea Stephens, Minta Keys, Charles Griffin, David Griffin, Frankie Smith, Scott Syler, Ron Syler, Debra Carmody, Becky Haney, George Syler and Barbara Grant.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Marguerite and John Crittenden Education Scholarship Fund c/o of Westville High School: Attention Jennie Guthrie, Westville, Okla. 74965.
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