L. Howard Criswell's Obituary
L. Howard Criswell, 93 of Centerville, Iowa died Tuesday, November 11, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center's Long Term Care in Centerville. Howard was born in Jasper County, Iowa September 11, 1921. He was the son of William Albert Criswell and Lela Cress Dobbs Criswell. Howard was raised on a farm in Poweshiek County and attended rural school near Searsboro, Iowa.On June 4, 1942 Howard was united in marriage to Ruth Wenger of Brooklyn, Iowa at the First Methodist Church Parsonage in Grinnell, Iowa. Howard served in the United States Army in the 1st Convalescent Unit in the South Pacific during WWII from January, 1943 to January 1946. He was trained and served as a Medical Technician. Howard was extremely proud of his time in the service and organized and attended many service reunions with his WWII buddies.In 1946 Howard returned from service and was employed by Iowa Southern Utilities as an apprentice lineman in Grinnell, Iowa. In 1949 he transferred to Leon, Iowa as a Lineman. In 1954 he completed his technical study and apprenticeship training for Lineman. In 1956 he was transferred to Ottumwa, Iowa as System Crew Foreman then in 1958 he transferred to the Iowa Southern Utilities General Office in Centerville, Iowa as assistant to the Superintendent of Construction. He became Distribution Technician in the General Office and in 1974 he was named Southern District Superintendent and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1982. While in Centerville, wife, Ruth, worked in the City Book Store in Centerville. In 1964 Howard and Ruth became the owners of the City Book Store in Centerville and managed the store until 1984. They enjoyed twenty years of their retirement, six months of each year, in Arizona. Howard loved to garden. He also enjoyed many hours with Arizona friends pitching horseshoe and hiking the mountains and desert.Howard was a member of the First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Men. He was a Boy Scout leader for many years. Howard was also active in Rainbow for girls and was a Rainbow Dad for 14 years as well as a member and past Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star and fifty year member and Past Master of Jackson Lodge #42 of Centerville.Howard was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth; 4 brothers (Ray, Roy, Rex and Bob Criswell) and a daughter- in-law, Charlotte Criswell.Howard is survived by son Dennis Criswell and his wife Kim of Corydon; daughter, Sherry Farrington and husband John of Centerville; granddaughter, Paige Prendergast and husband Mike, of Castle Rock, Colorado and granddaughter, Jennifer Della Vedova and husband Chris, of Ankeny, Iowa; grandson, Chad Criswell, and wife Tracey, of Altoona, Iowa. Also surviving are eight great grandchildren; Ian and Ashlyn Prendergast; Annika and Dominic Della Vedova; Noah, Alexandra, Arthur and Charlotte Criswell; Brother, Larry Criswell and wife Pat of Grinnell, Iowa; sister-in-law, Laura Hall of Brooklyn, Iowa; sister-in-law Irene Criswell of Newton; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am, Friday, November 14, 2014 at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa with Rev. Dennis Gilbert officiating. Burial will follow at the Haines Cemetery north of Centerville with full military honors given by Appanoose county Veterans. Visitation will be held from 10 am until the time of services at the funeral home with the family present. Memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church of Centerville and may be left or mailed to the funeral home. The To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of L. Howard Criswell please visit our Sympathy Store.
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