Jr., D. Crichton

David D. Crichton, Jr. Lt. Col. USAF (Ret) passed away peacefully on July 19th, 2004 in Hopewell, Virginia. He was born May 10th, 1922 in Petersburg, Virginia. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Libby and Dick Barnes of Hopewell, Va., a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. David and Teresa Crichton of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a nephew, Gary Barnes, five nieces, Betty, Selleda, Norma, Valeria and Pam Sheets and four grandsons, David D. Crichton, lV, D. Scott Crichton, Nicholas DiGiacomo and Robby Schmidt.
LT. Col. Crichton graduated from Hopewell High School in 1940. He entered the Army Air Corps in 1942 as a bombardier during World War ll. He flew in B-17s over Germany with the 100th bomb group of the8th Air Force. He was highly decorated, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. After the war he graduated from the University of Florida, majoring in Industrial Arts. After a short interval of teaching he was recalled to the Air Force for the Korean War. He then remained in the Air Force for a career, retiring in December of 1969. He returned to Hopewell and continued teaching industrial arts for several years. He married Delta Elizabeth Sheets (Betty) in 1946 and was married for fifty-three years until her passing in 1999. They had two children, David D. Crichton, lll and Debbie Sue Crichton. Lt. Col. Crichton enjoyed singing barbershop music and was a member of the Tobaccoland Choir. He had a distinctive bass voice. He was on outgoing, friendly person, loved by his family. He will be missed and remembered by all who knew him. Funeral services will be held at the J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Chapel in Hopewell, Va. on Saturday, July 31st, 2004 at 1PM.with the Reverend Wayne Henry presiding. The burial service with full military honors will be at Southlawn Cemetery, just outside Petersburg, Virginia in Prince George County. A reception will be held at Fort Lee, The Lee Club, where dinner will be served. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be sent to Charity Baptist Church,4716 Ruffin Rd., Prince George, Va. 23875 or to Crater Community Hospice, 840 West Roslyn Rd. E. Colonial Heights, Va. 23834