Crites, Thomas Jacob, PO1

Thomas Jacob “Tom” Crites, a World War II submarine veteran, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2012 surrounded by the love of his family at IU Health Bloomington Hospital following a brave battle with cancer. He was 87. Tom was born in Sedgewickville, Missouri on September 5, 1924, to Dr. Edward and Mrs. Myrtle (Drum) Crites. He lived in Sedgewickville for seventy-three years and has been a resident of Bloomington for the past fourteen years. He is survived by Sylvia, his wife of 67 years, their children Lou Crites, Hal Crites, Connie (Steve) Ferguson, and Tim (Tammy) Crites; grandchildren Eddie Crites, Ty (Jennifer) Mungle, Eric (Aimee) Mungle, Will (Anne) Crites, Abbie (Edward) Crites-Leoni, Dusty (Cybil) Crites, Scott (Amanda) Crites, Duane (Robin) Patt, Jessica (Pat) Gegg, Ambyr Lay, Elizabeth Ferguson, Matt (Trisha) Ferguson and Amy (Brendan) Ferguson Sweeney and many great-grandchildren. He was thrilled to know that there are two more great-grandchildren on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings: Milford, Dolly, Howard (in infancy), Violet Propst and Norma Isaac. Tom graduated from Sedgewickville High School in the spring of 1941. On January 20, 1942, at the age of seventeen, Tom enlisted in the Navy and volunteered for “silent service” (submariners). He served on the U.S.S. PARGO (SS-264), mostly in the Pacific Ocean, from January 20, 1943 to September 27, 1945. The U.S.S. PARGO left Pearl Harbor in mid-June 1943 and made eight successful patrols earning the crew the Submarine Combat Medal with one gold star and three silver stars. Tom’s service on the submarine included taking depth charges in the Coral Sea and then on a mission in the Sea of Japan, surfaced to find the War was over when they could finally reestablish communication. Tom would say that the most important aspect of his life was his family. In April of 1945 while on leave, he proposed to the love of his life, Sylvia Henry, also of Sedgewickville. They were married less than a week later on April 29 because he had to return to his submarine. They were married for more than 67 years. Tom was a model member of the “Greatest Generation” and a true compassionate warrior for the country he loved. As General Eisenhower said, America won WWII, because of the boys who could fix anything and were brave fighters. Tom was honorably discharged on October 22, 1945, as a Petty Officer First Class. Tom opened “Crites Appliance Store” in Sedgewickville in 1947, and was a rural postal carrier out of Sedgewickville at the same time, in addition to being an independent plumber, electrician, and pipefitter. He loved working with his hands and he had an incredible passion for understanding how things function. He could fix just about anything the right way because of his extensive knowledge. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bollinger County Bank of Lutesville and the Bollinger County Health Board. He was a 50 year Mason of the Westview Lodge No. 103, W.M., of Millersville, Scottish Rite, a member of the Jackson American Legion, and an honorary member of the Theta Xi fraternity. He was raised in the Sedgewickville Lutheran Church and was a member of the Sedgewickville Methodist Church. Tom formally retired in 1982 and he and Sylvia began to travel extensively, visiting friends and family along the way and having reunions with U.S.S. PARGO crewmates annually. He and Sylvia moved to Bloomington in 1998 to be close to family members and be able to enjoy regular celebrations with them. They lived at Red Bud Hills Retirement Community where they made many good friends. A perfect day for him over the next decade and a half involved being outside and taking Snoopy or Max in his truck to the Ferguson Farms and working on numerous projects maintaining various buildings and equipment. This kept him very busy because he was an absolute perfectionist in everything he did. In addition to his exemplary service in World War II, he was an active life-time member of U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II and United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. He was also a member of the Holland Club which requires members to have qualified in submarines at least fifty years ago. Tom attended national U.S. Submarine Veterans conventions in addition to the inaugural reunion for members of the U.S.S. PARGO in 1966, and, had perfect attendance for the thirty-three U.S.S. PARGO reunions that followed, hosting many of them. Tom has donated materials to military museums and libraries and participated in the dedication of a commemorative storyboard regarding the twenty-eight submarines that were built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and passed through the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, MO between 1942 and 1945. Tom loved Indiana University Basketball, he was an avid storyteller and he excelled at games including checkers, croquet and cards. He was a tough competitor. As his son, Tim, recounts, “I never beat Dad in a game of checkers.” Another truth about Tom was that he loved his dogs, and as his companions they loved him. A compassionate and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Tom extended love and friendship to everyone he touched. He dedicated his life to the care of his wife and those he loved—family, friends, and Nation. He was a man who valued love of family, hard work, helping friends and neighbors, paying his bills on time and loyalty. He will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 30 from 4-7 p.m. at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third Street, in Bloomington. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sedgewickville United Methodist Church in Sedgewickville, Missouri. Tom Crites regularly gave of his time and money to various Veterans projects and organizations such as the Indiana Military History Museum (P.O. Box 977, Vincennes, IN 47591.) A similar donation would be a good way to remember Tom