Henry Crite, Jr.

Henry Crite, Jr., was born on November 18, 1922 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, son of Henry and Ardell Roberts Crite. He joined Greater Pleasant Hill at an early age under the pastorate of Rev. Ware. He attended Peake High School. After his completion at Peake he attended Fairpark in Little Rock with the National Youth Administration, where studied and practiced the machinist trade. He later moved to Hartford, CT to continue his machinist trade and shortly thereafter, gained employment with the New Briton Machine Company. In 1943, he entered into the United States Army. After basic training he was deployed to France where he was involved in World War II from there he went to Okinawa. He worked as a dispatch clerk for motor vehicles during the Rhineland Campaign. During his service time he was awarded several medals including; the American Theater Medal, E.A.M.E. Theater Medal with Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific Theater medal, Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. After an honorable discharge in 1946, he returned to Arkadelphia where he worked on the maintenance crew at Ouachita Baptist University. He retired from the City of Arkadelphia, Parks and Recreation. In 1947 he married Mattie Weaver, whom preceded him in death and to this union four daughters were born, Diane, Ardell, Phyllis, and Henrietta. In his 84th season, on September 6, 2007, Henry made his transition from time into eternity. Those left to cherish his memory: his children, Diane Crite of Los Angeles, CA, Henrietta & her husband, Harold Wilson of Altadena, CA, Phyllis & her husband, Kenneth McClure of Dewitt, MI, and Ardell & her husband, Jeffery Otten of Martha’s Vineyard, MA; special friend Mattie Sue Hatley of Arkadelphia, AR; sister, Edith Waters of San Francisco, CA; sister-in-law, Doris Weaver of Stephens, AR; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, special cousins Gloria Fallin Duarte, CA and Vera Roberts of Bloomington, ID, numerous friends & the Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church family. A tribute to his life will be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. in Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr., officiating. Commital Service will be atRest Haven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the family will greet & receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Mr. Crite will lie in state one hour prior to the service in the church. Active Bearers of the casket will be Paul Bailey, Daniel Bailey, Ollie Buckley, Steve Crite, Levi Garland, and Aubrey Hill. Images of Life DVD Compliments of Williams Funeral Home.