Themond (Ted) Jess Crites, age 100 successfully completed his earthly journey on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at home surrounded by his daughter and son-in-law, Chuck and Jeannette Flynn in Summerfield, Florida. Ted was born in Phalanx, Ohio on June 12, 1915 to Jesse Clinton Crites and Florence May (Winchell) Crites. His parents, his two sisters, Clara Adell Grimwood Murphy and Esther Florence Crites Barrett, and his four brothers, Arlo Adolph Crites; George Edward Crites; Emery Crites; and Henry Ray Crites, all preceded him in death. Ted met his wife, Edna Mildred Thompson when they were still in school. According to Ted he knew, "that was the girl he was going to marry," the first time he saw her sitting on a swing, before he even spoke to her. On June 12, 1939, as soon as she graduated from High School, he married that girl on the swing and they began a marriage of love, adventure and hard work that would span almost 73 years. Edna preceded her husband in death on April 20, 2012 at the age of 92. Ted and Edna have four children, Roger Coy Crites of Lake St. Louis, MO, married to Julia Ann Long Crites; Jeannette Rose Crites Flynn of Summerfield, FL, married to Charles Richard Flynn; Donald Themond Crites of Alliance, OH, married to Denise Marie Egley Crites; and Chris Allen Crites of Houston, TX. They also have a niece they helped to raise and love like a daughter, Patricia Ann Donell of Rootstown, OH. They are also blessed with nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. In addition, they loved their three nieces and two nephews, and their extended families of grandnieces grandnephews and cousins. A host of friends from many states were among their earthly treasures. When WWII intensified, even though Ted had not been drafted he felt it was his duty to join others in our country who fought for freedom and so he joined the US Navy and served during WWII in Okinawa and the Mariana Islands returning home on the Ticonderoga. In April of 2013, Ted and his daughter were privileged to take part in the Honor Flight program where Ted was flown to Washington, DC along with 80 other WW2 veterans and guardians to view the memorials and be honored for his service to his country and commitment to freedom. After the war, Ted accepted a position with Neidemeir, Martin & Sons in Oregon. Although doing well in the business world, after several years Ted moved his wife and young son back to Ohio to be close to family and try his hand at farming. While always a farmer at heart and as an avocation, after his diary herd was destroyed by disease he began to work for Reactive Metals (RMI)in Niles, Ohio. While employed there, he held several positions and eventually trained to be an electrician. That skill and his desire to ensure his children had the opportunity for higher education, he began wiring houses as an independent contractor and still kept the other hand in some limited farming. Ted retired from there in 1980, he and Edna enjoyed wintering in Inverness, FL all winter and loved returning to the Northeast Ohio Campgrounds of the Church of God in Berlin Center, Ohio every summer. For his four kids though, their favorite part was now Mom and Dad made the rounds at least once a year visiting with the kids and grandkids and evidently great-grandchildren. The kids all knew Dads favorite thing was to be asked if he could help us with projects so every year lists were made of all the projects only dad could do and he couldn't wait to arrive and get started. The bigger the project the better he liked it. While living in Portland, Oregon, Ted and Edna found a church family where they accepted Christ as their Savior. That began a lifetime journey of faith for them and spread richly to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They served for many decades in three congregations that were very significant to their hearts and faith. First Church of God in Newton Falls, Ohio; First Church of God in Mineral Ridge, Ohio; and First Church of God in Inverness, Ohio. Over their years of service and deep involvement with these congregations they loved and were blessed by a number of pastors and many, many people in those congregations that became their dearest friends. One of Ted's great joys was traveling. He and his wife, Edna made many trips all over the United States including Hawaii, Alaska, across Canada, into Mexico, a number of countries in Europe and they enjoyed several cruises in the Caribbean with friends. In addition to travel, Ted was an avid bowler and for many years held averages in the 180's. He and Edna bowled on many leagues and took part in a number of tournaments. He had a drawer full of ribbons, awards, pins and badges that he had accumulated in recognition of his skill. He was still bowling when he was 98 years old and still beating his grandchildren at the game every chance he got. He loved to fish and thought nothing of heading out into the Gulf of Mexico on his boat alone for a day of fishing in the sun, but loved it best when he got to go with a friend or family member. In his later years, Ted took up several crafts and filled his families' homes with beautiful plastic canvas and latch hook rugs. He had won several awards at county fairs for crafts for some large and well done crafts. Always the competitor to the very end, Dad loved to play dominos with an oversized handmade set that one of his granddaughters, Cindy Crites, had lovingly made for him. He somehow managed to win most of the domino games he played with family members! In the last years of his life he loved to tell people how old he was and when they would ask him what his secret was he would answer, "I married a beautiful woman and I love the Lord." That was the formula that worked for him. Viewing will begin at 9:00am on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at James Funeral Home in Newton Falls, OH with a memorial service following at 10:00am. Family and friends are welcome. Ted will be laid to rest beside his wife Edna with full military honors at Green Haven Memorial Gardens in Canfield, Ohio. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers all donations would go to either First Church of God, 5510 E. Jasmine Lane, Inverness, Florida 34453-1071 or to NEO Campgrounds % JD Klinesmith, 16278 Shilling Road, Berlin Center, Ohio 44401 in memory of Ted & Edna Crites. Arrangements have been entrusted to the James Funeral Home, 8 East Broad Street, Newton Falls, OH 44444 (330)872-5440. Family and friends may view Ted's entire obituary online or to send condolences to the family please visit us at www.jamesfuneralhomeinc.com

Saturday, April 16, 2016 10:00 AM

James Funeral Home Inc. 8 East Broad St. Newton Falls, Ohio 44444