William Crittenden

CRITTENDEN The Rt. Rev. William Crittenden, D.D., LL.D., the retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania (formerly the Diocese of Erie), died September 8, 2003 at Countryside Village in Stokesdale, NC. He was 95. Bishop Crittenden was born in New Boston, PA. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Lafayette College, where he was later Professor of Religion and Chaplain. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity at Episcopal Theological School, Harvard. Following ordination in 1934, he served parishes in the Diocese of Massachusetts. Bishop Crittenden was national Secretary for the Division of Youth for the Episcopal Church and Archdeacon of Southern Ohio before his election to the Episcopate in 1952. Active in ecumenical work, he represented the Episcopal Church on the Board of the National Council of Churches, as well as being a member of the Ecumenical Institute, World Council of Churches. In 1963, Gannon University, a Roman Catholic institution, awarded him an honorary LL.D., in recognition of his efforts in inter-church relations. In 1966, he received the Max Currich Award, given by the Jewish community for outstanding contribution to inter-faith work. Bishop Crittenden was a trustee of Chautauqua Institution from 1958 to 1970. After his retirement in 1974, he moved to Mexico where he taught Ethics in the Spanish language at the University of Guadalajara, Garza Law School. Survivors include his wife, Mary B. Alexander Crittenden of Stokesdale, NC; a son, The Rev. William S. Crittenden of Chautauqua, NY; a daughter, Joan Seiffert of Winston-Salem, NC; two grandsons: Webster Crittenden of NY, NY; Matthew Crittenden of Portland, OR; two granddaughters: Susan Hazlett of Durham, NC; Debra Hazlett of Columbia, MD and two great granddaughters. Bishop Crittenden was preceded in death by his first two wives, Eleanor Setchel Crittenden and Helen West Crittenden, and a brother, D. Webster Crittenden. A Memorial Eucharist will be celebrated at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul, 145 West 6th Street at 12:00 noon Saturday, October 18th. The Rt. Rev. Robert D. Rowley, Jr. will be the celebrant, assisted by The Very Rev. John P. Downey. The family will receive visitors in the League Room at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to The Department of Religion, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY 14722. Arrangements by the Burton Funeral Home, 602 West 10th St. (Fri-17)