Gladys Jane (Ritchey) Crittendon

Gladys Jane Crittendon

July 17, 1930 - April 26, 2016

Gladys Jane (Ritchey) Crittendon, beloved wife of the late James F. Crittendon, Jr., for 58 years and a long-time resident of Oakdale Road in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at Homewood at Martinsburg on April 26, 2016, following a battle with Parkinson's disease.

Jane was born on July 17, 1930 in Duncansville, PA, and was the daughter of the late Paul W. Ritchey and Mildred (Greaser) Ritchey and the sister of Reid E. Ritchey and George O. Ritchey. Before graduating from Martinsburg High School in 1948, she was one of two eighth-grade students at Lakemont Public School to receive the American Legion Certificate of School Award for “high qualities of courage and character.” She received her bachelor of science degree from Millersville (PA) University, formerly Millersville State Teachers College, in May 1952.

She taught for several years in the Palmyra Borough School District before she and three college friends applied and were accepted in 1955 to teach dependents of U.S. military service families in Europe. Jane was assigned to the American Family School in Bitburg, Germany. During that time, she met James F. “Jim” Crittendon, Jr., a native of Bay City, Texas, who was stationed nearby at the U.S. Air Force (USAF) base in Spangdahlem.

On August 10, 1957, she and Jim were married at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Martinsburg. They continued to live and work in Germany and enjoyed touring throughout Europe until 1962, when Jim and many in his USAF Unit were reassigned to the USAF base in Orlando, Florida. She often wrote of their travels which were published in the Morrison’s Cove Herald. In 1965, they returned to Martinsburg, where Jane taught first and second grade at Benson Elementary School (now Martinsburg Elementary School) until she retired in 1992.

Surviving are a daughter, Janna Lynne Crittendon, of Scituate, MA; a son, David Paul Crittendon, his wife, Lauren (Ready) Crittendon, and their three children: Rachel Marie, Kyle James and Claire Grace, of Marlborough, MA; a brother, Reid E. Ritchey, and his wife, Peggy, of Altoona, PA; and a brother, George O. Ritchey, and his wife, Nancy, of Valencia, PA, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

From the time she moved to Martinsburg, Jane was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ and was involved in various church activities, including Bible study in her later years. She had many interests; she enjoyed music of all types, needlepoint, traveling, gardening, reading, and corresponding with several of her long-time friends around the U.S. and in Germany. She also enjoyed visiting the Boston area to spend time with her grandchildren.

Friends will be received from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at Bolger’s Funeral Home at 111 E. Allegheny St. in Martinsburg. A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on May 12 at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 117 E. Julian Street in Martinsburg, to be followed by her burial at Fairview Cemetery in Martinsburg. A reception at the church will follow. The Rev. Mary Hendricks and the Rev. Jerry McCuller, Jr., will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made in Jane’s name to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation in New York, NY, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in New York, NY. Arrangements are by John K. Bolger Funeral Home, Inc. in Martinsburg.