William H. Crittendon

William H. Crittendon, a.k.a. Jack, transitioned peacefully to be with the Lord on Monday, March 13, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN. William was born in Hickman, Kentucky to William Franklin Crittendon and Rosie Bell Cooks.

William graduated from Central High School in 1956. After high school William worked in the Gary steel mills and later as a custodian at the South Bend City Hall. In between those occupations, he became the first black shoe salesperson at Berland's Shoes for women in downtown South Bend. In 1966, William began his career as a fire fighter for the City of South Bend Fire Department. In 1995, he retired from the department finishing out his career at Fire Station #8. During his time serving his community as a fire fighter and for some time following, he worked part-time for the Sears Corp as a service technician for more than thirty years.

William (Jack) was a faithful servant to the Lord and is now a Soldier in His Army. He was a long-time member of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, South Bend, IN, where he served as Trustee and a member of Pilgrim's Choir. He made sure that when he was no longer able to attend church due to his illness, he sat by his radio to hear the songs of praise from the choir and the sermon from his beloved Pastor.

William loved to sing, tell corny jokes, create plays on words, and spend time with family and friends. He never met a stranger. He will be deeply missed.

On February 25, 1961, William married Cecilia (Claybrooke) Crittendon, his loving and faithful wife who survives with their four children: William (Jannifer) Crittendon of Granger, IN; Paula Crittendon-Hill, of Indianapolis, IN; Eric (Teresa) Crittendon of South Bend, IN; and Carla Crittendon of Mishawaka, IN. Other surviving loved ones include his stepmother Dora Lee Crittendon, brother Curtis (Mary Beth) Crittendon, sisters Wilma Wilder (Dan, deceased), Anne Davis, Elaine Taylor (Bruce, deceased), Diane Lee, and Joyce Cooks. William also leaves to cherish his loving memory his last surviving aunt, Lillie Mae Johnson, seven beautiful grandchildren: Eric Crittendon, Jr., Jeffrey Crittendon, Kristin Crittendon, Alexis Crittendon, Bryce Crittendon, Jalen Rabotte-Crittendon, and Caleb Crittendon, and five beautiful great grandchildren: Braelynn, Aiden, Nashton, Arabella, and Aeson. William also has a host of loving nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends that will cherish his memory.

William was preceded in death by his parents, William Franklin Crittendon and Rosie Bell Cooks.

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