CHARLOTTE - Thomas E. "Ed" Crittenden, 93, passed away Saturday, June 13, 2020, at Aldersgate CCRC in Charlotte. He was born in Hardyville, Virginia, on October 20, 1926, to Thomas H. and Wade V. Crittenden. Ed graduated from Syringa High School in Middlesex County, VA.
As a child of the Great Depression, Ed's career began early, working on his father's farm and trucking company in Deltaville, Virginia. As young as 14 years old and still in school, he drove trucks, carrying produce and other goods to Baltimore and other east coast cities in the early years of World War II. After a brief stint in the US Army, he continued to work with his father's company until he met the love of his life, Doris Grubb, while she was in nursing school in Richmond. They wed in 1950. Ed continued working in trucking, moving into management, and relocating to Charlotte in 1959. He retired from Bowman Transportation in 1989. Ed then began his second "career," working for his son, Steve Crittenden, at Southern Fitness Products in Charlotte.
A very energetic man, Ed enjoyed working in his large vegetable garden and sharing its harvest with his many friends and family. He was a longtime member of Cole Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlotte, serving as a fixture on the finance committee, ushering, and cooking breakfast with the Methodist Men. He was also active in the Lions Club and was a 50+ year member of the Donovan Masonic Lodge in Deltaville.
Ed was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Anna C. Saunders, brother, Fredrick S. Crittenden, his daughter, Rebecca Crittenden Boyce, and his son, Stephen W. Crittenden. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Doris G. Crittenden; his son, David E. Crittenden (Susan) of Cary, NC; five grandchildren; Elizabeth T. Johnson (Jed), Sarah C. Fuller (Andy), Kathryn C. Appel (Tyler), Matthew D. Crittenden and A. Tyler Crittenden: four great-grandchildren and his sister Helen C. Culbertson.
A celebration service of Ed's life will be held at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens, 1504 West Sugar Creek Road, Charlotte, on Saturday, June 20, at 11:00 AM. Social distancing will be observed and masks provided.
Memorial donations can be made to the American Alzheimer's Association or the Guardian Angel's Fund at Aldersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.
Ed's family would like to offer special thanks and gratitude to the caring team of professionals at Cuthbertson Village Memory Care at Aldersgate, for the love and compassionate care shown to Ed these past six years.
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