Dallas R. Crites

Dallas R. Crites, age 82, of Gnadenhutten, died early Tuesday morning, March 14, 2006, in Union Hospital at Dover, following a brief battle with cancer. Born at Gnadenhutten April 23, 1923, Dallas was the last surviving of seven children born to the late Edward Ferdinand Crites and Clara Amelia Wheland Crites. Dallas grew up in Gnaden, and graduated from high school there in 1941. Following a brief career at Westinghouse during World War II, where he worked at a torpedo manufacturing plant at Canton, Dallas went into business for himself as a milk hauler. For the next twenty-three years, Dallas would serve local dairy farmers working long hours, seven days a week. Many of his former customers would remain lifelong friends. Ultimately, Dallas would sell his milk route, and join Associated Grocers at Dennison where he would work until his retirement in 1987. Dallas was an accomplished woodworker, and was very generous with the products he produced from his home workshop. From clocks to breadboxes and potato bins, his fine craftsmanship will be long remembered by his family, all of whom will treasure their gifts from their husband, father and grandfather. Among his greatest works include a depiction of the Lord’s Prayer which he cut from a single piece of wood using a scroll saw. Survivors include his wife of sixty-two years, the former June Carlisle, two daughters; Diana and husband Homer Helter of Naples, Florida, and Carolyn “Kernie” Crites of Largo, Florida, a son; Jeffrey Crites of Gnadenhutten and his friend Sarah Fouts of Gillmore. He’ll be sadly missed by his six grandchildren, Tim (Colleen) Helter of Fort Meyers, Florida, Lorri Helter (Rick) Ciatto of Largo, Florida, Brian (Jayne) Galbraith of Clearwater, Florida, Shawn Galbraith (Stewart) Batts of Parish Florida, Dena Crites (Jimmy) Stephens of Roswell, and Jason Crites and companion Jessica Lynch of Gnadenhutten. Eleven great-grandchildren, and two step-great grandchildren complete the family. In addition to his parents, Mr. Crites is preceded in death by two sisters, Lois Helmreich and Doris Caster as well as four brothers, John, Donald, Charles and Earl “Pedo” Crites.Friends are invited to call Friday, March 17, 2006 from 2-4 and 7-9 in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The Rev. Dr. Monte Canfield will lead a funeral ceremony Saturday morning at 11 AM in the John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church on South Walnut Street at Gnadenhutten where the family will also receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Gnadenhutten-Clay Union Cemetery. Following the committal service, a reception will be given in the church fellowship hall. Memorial contributions to the John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church, PO Box 126, Gnadenhutten, Ohio 44629, or to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, Ohio 44622, are encouraged by the family.