Dr. Richard Leo Crickard Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Dr. Richard Leo Crickard, 87 years, a resident of Valley Head, WV and a United Methodist clergyman departed his earthly home for his heavenly home with the Lord on June 16, 2016 at the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility. He was born December 31, 1928 at Valley Head, the son of the late Jonas Leo and Clara Beulah Hannah Crickard. On Christmas day, December 25, 1952, he was united in marriage to the late Darlene Lucelle Arbogast Crickard, daughter of Virgie Irene Ware Arbogast who is 102 years old and lives in Middletown, DE and the late Roscoe Elmer. Richard and Darlene had celebrated fifty eight years of marriage before Darlene preceded him in death January 27, 2011. Surviving are two daughters, Marcia Manley of Charleston and Denise Ware and husband Gerald of Bedford, PA and one son, Dr. Kevin Crickard and wife Diana of Buckhannon. Grandchildren, Jason Manley and wife Crisi, Murfreesboro, TN, Lauren Hartley and husband Charles of St. Albans, Chloe Ware and Patrick Ware of Bedford, PA, Madison Crickard, Brandon Lesher and Devon Kessell of Buckhannon and three great grandchildren, Gabriel Michael Jannotta and Caleb Hartley of St. Albans and Mason Kessell of Buckhannon. Dr. Crickard was a lifelong United Methodist minister serving thirty seven years in the West Virginia Methodist Conference. He was ordained a Traveling Elder by Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke at West Virginia Wesleyan College. He served churches in West Union, Princeton, Richwood, White Sulphur Springs, Clarksburg, Hinton, and St. Mary’s. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Davis and Elkins College, his Master’s in Divinity from the Drew University Theological School, his Sacred Theology Masters from the University of Boston and his Doctorate in Ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. Dr. Crickard also served in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant and Chaplain during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His home ship was the USS John Paul Jones, and he would be transported from ship to ship on Sundays to conduct worship services for the Marines and Sailors stationed on board. At Camp Lejeune, he tended to Marines and Sailors who were in the brig. He was also a life-long member of the Riverside Lodge No. 124 A. F. and A. M. Masonic Lodge of Cass, WV. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and hiking throughout his life and was well-known as a kind, compassionate and generous man. In his final four years of life, he was cared for by the Staff of the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility. He attended outings regularly to the mall, movies, festivals, fairs and parades. He was active with the facility’s in-house recreational events and was always thankful to those that showed him love and compassion. The family would like to thank the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility for the care and love they gave to their Dad in these final years. Friends may call from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM Sunday, June 19th, 2016 at the Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday with Rev. Billee Scott Mick officiating and interment will follow at the Valley Head Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Benefit Fund, C/O The West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility, 1 Freedom’s Way, Clarksburg, WV 26301 in memory of Dr. Crickard. The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Dr. Richard Leo Crickard. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.

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Dr. Richard Leo Crickard

December 31, 1928 - June 16, 2016