William Francis Critchfield

W. F. 'Bill' Critchfield was born October 11, 1916. He was the son of Thomas Waller and Minnie Lou (Murray) Critchfield. Bill grew up in Effingham, Kansas. He later lived in Overland Park, Kansas; South Dakota; Arlington, Texas; Iowa; Louisiana; South Carolina; Georgia; Florida; Kentucky; Nevada; and Alaska, retiring in Ottawa, Kansas in 1989, where he made his home until his death Tuesday, September 2, 2003, at the age of eighty-six years. Bill graduated from Effingham High School with the class of 1934. He attended Kansas State University and later completed a masters degree in Civil Engineering through correspondence. From 1937 to 1939, Bill farmed in the Effingham community. From 1940 to 1942, he moved to Texas to work on Government construction projects, namely, Perrin Field, near Sherman; Blackland Flying School, near Waco; and Fort Hood, near Killeen. He worked in the construction of the Canol Project, Alaska Territory, a pipeline from the Skagway terminal through the White Pass to Whitehorse in the Yukon territory, to Watson Lake, now known as the AlCan Highway, to Norman Wells near the Artic Circle. In 1945, after his military discharge, he was engaged in construction of highways and soil conservation projects in South Dakota and later, Kansas, selling his construction company in 1961. In 1961, he began work for Missouri Valley Constructors of Amarillo, Texas, as project superintendent for power plants in East Texas and Iowa. In 1971, he began as project manager for Daniel International, which later became FLUOR-DANIEL, constructing a paper mill in Hodge, Louisiana followed by, power plant for KCP&L & KG&E in LaCygne, Kansas; and KCP&L & ST. JOE P&E power plant in Iatan, Missouri. Upon completion of the plant at Iatan, he was assigned to the Kansas City office as manager of construction for the power division for the erection of all fossil fuel plants. He was project manager for power plants for Nevada Power Co., Las Vegas, Nevada; Louisville Gas & Electric, Louisville, Kentucky; Florida Power Co. (two units), Crystal River, Florida; and Tennessee Valley Authority, Paducah, Kentucky, retiring in 1986. From October of 1942 to December of 1945, he served in the United States Marine Corps, during World War II. He was a Marine Raider, an elite specialized fighting force made up of expert riflemen with jungle training, who were first to land on beaches to clear them for troops to follow. In the Pacific Theater, he ran the Gauntlet with no escort to New Caledonie, where he saw his first combat. He also saw combat at Guadal Canal, Tulaqui Island, Green Island, Macan Island, Tarawa, Saipan and Guam. From Guam, he proceeded to Okinawa and prepared for the invasion of Japan, when they surrendered. Bill was a member of the 4th Regiment that was present at the Japanese surrender and secured the cities of Yakasuska, Yokahamah, and Tokyo. He obtained the rank of Corporal and earned citations and medals including the Good Conduct Medal, Pacific Theater Medal, World War II Victory Medal, three bronze stars, and the Honor Man award of his platoon. Bill was a member of Effingham Union Church. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1175; American Legion; Ancient Free & Accepted Masons Lodge #158; and Order of Eastern Star Martha Washington Lodge #215, all of Atchison, Kansas. He was also a member of the York Rite of Kansas and Abdullah Shrine of Kansas City. The most important things in Bill's life were faith and family, integrity in his construction work, and the honor of the Marine Corps. Bill enjoyed going to the rifle range, gun shows, and horse shows. He loved to travel with his wife, work in the yard, and spend time on the farm. On December 25, 1937, Bill was united in marriage with Claudine Lola Jarvis at Fort Worth, Texas. She survives. He is also survived by two daughters, Theda Gay Onofrietti and her husband, Carl, of Arlington, Texas; Sara Lynn Vallier and her husband, Verle, of Richmond, Kansas; brother, Dr. Tom Critchfield of Lake Stevens, Washington; two granddaughters, Angelle Dugas of EuClaire, Wisconsin, Lauren Webb of Arlington, Texas; and two great-grandsons, Victor William Bergeron and Blake Bergeron, both of EuClaire, Wisconsin. He is preceded in death by his parents. SERVICES: Graveside services will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Effingham, Kansas, 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 6, 2003. OFFICIATING CLERGY: Ted Buckley. IN STATE: Mr. Critchfield will lie in state at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 2:00 p.m. Thursday to 9:00 p.m. Friday, where the family will meet with friends 7 to 8:00 Friday evening. CEMETERY: Evergreen Cemetery, Effingham, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Franklin County Cancer Foundation, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.