ROGER CRITES

SPENCERVILLE — Roger E. Crites, 75, died at 4:29 a.m. on Aug. 23 at St. Rita's Medical Center with his family at his side, following an extended illness.

He was born Oct. 26, 1939, in Lima, a son of Ross V. and Lena M. Thomas Crites, who are deceased. On February 21, 1961, he married Donna J. Holtzhauer, who died June 21, 1999. Then, on Dec. 2, 2000, he married Barbara I. Bowersock Oakman, who survives in Spencerville.

Also surviving are two sons; Steven L. Crites of Spencerville and Kevin S. (Betsy) Crites of St. Marys; two step sons; Stacy L. (Denise) Oakman of Spencerville and Jason S. (Rene') Oakman of Port Matilda, Pennsylvania; 12 grandchildren; Trevor, Evan, Aaron, Nicole and Michael Crites; Joseph, Alea, Jacob, Zachary, Rachel, Jolie and Lanny Oakman; and four siblings; Clair C. Crites of Lima; Ross H. (Marlene) Crites of Lima; Barbara E. Adams of Spencerville and Ned (Melinda Smith) Crites of Cridersville.

He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law; Larry E. Adams.

Roger was a 1958 graduate of Shawnee High School and worked as a truck driver for Goodyear in St. Marys and retired in 2000 with 30 years service at the Scot Lad Foods/Roundys Company in Lima.

He was a member of the Spencerville First Baptist Church and had been a member of the Hartford Christian Church. He was an outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, hunting arrow heads, gardening and planting trees and best of all, mushroom hunting.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home in Spencerville, with Rev. Jim Fletcher officiating. Burial will follow in the Kossuth Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or to the donors choice.

Condolences may be sent to tbayliff@woh.rr.com