Thomas Crites

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Thomas Jacob "Tom" Crites, 87, of Bloomington, Ind., a World War II submarine veteran, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, surrounded by the love of his family at Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital, following a brave battle with cancer.

Tom was born Sept. 5, 1924, in Sedgewickville, to Dr. Edward and Myrtle Drum Crites.

He lived in Sedgewickville 73 years and has been a resident of Bloomington the past 14 years.

Tom 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 there are two more great-grandchildren on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five siblings, Milford, Dolly and Howard in infancy, Violet Propst and Norma Isaac.

Tom graduated from Sedgewickville High School in the spring of 1941.

On Jan. 20, 1942, at the age of 17, Tom enlisted in the Navy and volunteered for "silent service" (submariners). He served on the USS Pargo (SS-264), mostly in the Pacific Ocean, from Jan. 20, 1943, to Sept. 27, 1945. The USS 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 surfacing in the Sea of Japan to find the war was over when they were able to re-establish communication.

He would say that the most important aspect of his life was his family. In April 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, April 29, because he had to return to his submarine.

Tom was a model member of the "Greatest Generation" and a true compassionate warrior for the country he loved. As Gen. Eisenhower said, America won World War II because of the boys who could fix anything and were brave fighters. Tom was honorably discharged Oct. 22, 1945, as a petty officer first class.

He 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.

Tom served as a member of the board of directors of Bollinger County Bank of Lutesville and Bollinger County Health Board. He was a 50-year Mason of Westview Lodge 103 W.M. of Millersville, Scottish Rite, a member of Jackson American Legion and an honorary member of Theta Xi fraternity. He was raised in the Sedgewickville Lutheran Church, and was a member of Sedgewickville Methodist Church.

He formally retired in 1982 and he and Sylvia began to travel extensively, visiting friends and family along the way and having reunions with USS Pargo crewmates annually.

Tom 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 Redbud 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 lifetime 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 50 years ago.

Tom attended national U.S. Submarine Veterans conventions in addition to the inaugural reunion for members of the USS Pargo in 1966, and had perfect attendance for the 33 USS 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 28 submarines that were built in Manitowoc, Wis., and passed through the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau between 1942 and 1945.

Tom loved Indiana University basketball. He was an avid storyteller, and 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 will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third St. in Bloomington.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sedgewickville United Methodist Church in Sedgewickville.

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.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.pdcfuneralchapel.com.