James F. Criswell, age 86, of San Antonio, died Saturday, March 9, 2002. He lived on a farm in Austin with his mother, after the death of his father. Mr. Criswell became an aviator and later joined the Army Air Corp for two years. He became a wild cat oil driller in Jack County, Texas. He married Bessie Helton and became a student in engineering at the University of Texas in Austin until the outbreak of WWII. Mr. Criswell was drawn into scouting as a scoutmaster for which he was awarded a Wood Badge and Silver Beaver Award. He became a member of the San Antonio Board of Scouting and helped develop the Bear Creek Facility and helped organize the Scout Program at the Alamo Heights Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Kate Criswell, his first wife, Bessie Helton and daughter, Nancy Criswell. Survivors: wife, Patricia Criswell; stepdaughter, Terry Bill Kennemer; stepson, Scott Halty; nephew, Claude "Buddy" Ritchie; 3 step-grandchildren.
