Herbert E Crites Sr.

Herbert Eugene Crites Sr., 90, of Harrisburg passed from this life on Saturday, 10/19/19 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. He was born during the depression into great poverty with his parents, the late Russell and Lora Crites, on December 31, 1928 in Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. As a high school teen during WWII, Herbert was too young to fight in that war, but worked hard to help support his family in the rice fields of rural,wartime Arkansas, often laboring side-by-side--and matching stride-for-stride-the tough, often arrogant German POWs who were used as farm laborers during the war.
When war called on America again, Herbert left Arkansas in the early 50s to enlist in the Marines and fight in the Korean War. As a combat messenger assigned to a Marine Infantry division, a young PFC Crites was seriously wounded in a Chinese/North Korean mortar attack that shattered his right shoulder. He was evacuated from the battlefield by helicopter and treated in a MASH unit that undoubtedly saved his life and stabilized him for return to the US mainland for continued treatment of his traumatic shoulder wound. Fortunately, he became one of the first Korean conflict WIAs with this sort of wound to receive a new prosthetic shoulder that allowed him to keep his right arm, but would severely and painfully limit his use of it for the rest of his life.
While recovering from surgery, Herbert met Lieutenant Junior Grade Alma Mae Lyter, the compassionate young Navy nurse assigned to his ward at Millington Naval Air Station. The daughter of a Pennsylvania village blacksmith, Alma’s toughness and high expectations for him to work hard at his rehabilitation aided his recovery--and his morale—tremendously. The two married soon after, and started a family that would eventually grow to include two daughters, Carolyn Kay in 1954, Stephanie Elaine in 1961, and a son, Herbert Eugene Jr, in 1956.
Under the GI Bill, Herb attended Arkansas State College in Jonesboro, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Business. After graduating, Herb continued his education at the University of Arkansas, earning a Master of Business Administration degree. As he entered the civilian work force, Herb first taught English for a time at the University of Virginia before embarking on a career in the US government civil service. Thanks to his war record as well as his education, he was quickly hired and first assigned to the US Army Civilian Personnel Office at the US Army Intelligence Command at Fort Holabird, Maryland.
There, Herbert managed civilian intelligence assets aiding the Army from hotspots all over the world. He frequently traveled throughout Europe, Asia, and South America in supporting the human resource needs of those assets.
In the turbulent and divisive early 1970s, Herbert and Alma Crites separated and later divorced. Herb transferred to Memphis, Tennessee, becoming the Chief Personnel Officer for the Memphis Region of the US Army Corp of Engineers. There he recruited, hired, and managed the civil construction engineers who maintained the banks of the Mississippi. And he rekindled a long-past acquaintance with computer programmer and former model, Glenda Gail Thearl. In scarcely a year the two married.
Herb and Gail, though both career-minded professionals, worked very hard to make a beautiful home together in Blackfish Lake, Arkansas, slowly but meticulously restoring a half-century-old country mansion to its former elegance. They were active in their church, Memphis’ First Presbyterian, from where they enjoyed the company of a wide circle of friends. Herb and Gail together hosted many parties at their home, most notably an annual “pig pickin’” hog roast. And together they took countless trips, both in country and abroad. They traveled extensively together through the US, Canada, and Mexico, by car, RV and even aboard a motorcycle, with their Honda Gold Wing touring club. Devoted fans of Arkansas football, they were regulars at A-State and University games for many seasons.
Herb and Gail truly shared the greatest happiness that either of them had ever known. But sadly, in January of 1997, a long and untreatable illness claimed Gail just a few years after the two had retired. Herb deeply grieved the loss of his beloved “Gailly” for the rest of his life.
Herbert was preceded in death also by his eldest daughter, Carolyn Alexander, and his sister, Nina Tuller.
Herbert is survived by his son Herbert Eugene Crites Jr. (Terry) of McKinney, Texas; daughter, Stephanie Meador (Sammy) of Heth, Arkansas; grandchildren, Lauren Shirar (Paul), Sarah Hill (Robert), Shannon Hudson (Chris), Ray Meador (Jordan), Stephen Meador (Jennifer), Jason Stephens, Alexis Weiss, Jimi Alexander, Stephanie Alexander, and Jamie Alexander. Herbert also leaves behind many great-grandchildren, and a host of other family and friends.
The visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday October 23, 2019 at Emerson Funeral Home.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at Emerson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Lewis Cemetery in Hickory Ridge with active pallbearers being: Robert Hill, Ray Meador, Stephen Meador, Sammy Meador, Herb Crites, and Lee Whittley. Honorary Pallbearers will be: David Johns, Ralph Jackson, Paul Shirar, Chris Hudson, and John Lang.

For lasting memorials family ask to please consider donating to the DAV – Disabled American Veterans P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.