Dolores Jean Crites

January 18, 1938 - April 4, 2025

Dolores Jean Walker was born on January 18, 1938, in the small town of Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, to parents Harold and Helen Walker. She grew up an only child, and attended Gauley Bridge High School, where she was active in cheerleading and Bible club. She went on to attend Marshall College for two years. She married her high school sweetheart Robert “Bob” Freeman Crites on January 5, 1958. Their only child Robert Stephen Crites was born in October 1958.

Robert joined the United States Air Force, which took Jean all over the world, from the Philippines to Italy, and all over the states, eventually settling in California, where Bob was stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, CA. Jean served in the Civil Service throughout their military tenure as secretary to several Base Commanders. Most notably, Jean served as secretary to the Wing Commander of the 93rd Bomb Wing at Castle Air Force Base from 1979-1994, earning several awards and accolades of excellence throughout her career. Jean retired in 1994, just prior to Castle’s closing in 1995. After retirement, she worked in the office of their family business “Bob’s Community Pest Control” for several years.

In her retirement years, Jean and Bob took many adventures and enjoyed traveling. She was also a member of Merced’s Golf and Country Club, where she could be found golfing with Bob and their friends. Perhaps her most valued role was grandma and great-grandma. She loved nothing more than spending time with her grandbabies and great-grandbabies. This was a blessing that her family will forever cherish! Together they enjoyed baking, shopping, playing in the pool, or going to the nail salon. Grandma Jean loved nothing more than time spent with family. Some of our favorite memories include grandma’s Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners around her dining table, surrounded by family.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Helen Walker. She is survived by the love of her life, Robert F. Crites, son Steve (Serena) Crites, granddaughters Michelle (Justin) Cordoza and Janel (Mark) Cumings, and her great-grandchildren Alexa Cordoza, Nathan Cordoza, Sophia Cordoza, Braden Cumings, and Hudson Cumings.

Services for Jean will take place on April 16, 2025, at Stratford Evans Funeral Home, 1490 B. Street, Merced. Visitation will be from 9:00am-10:00am, followed by a service at 10:00am; reception to immediately follow. Jean will be buried at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jean’s memory to Valley Children’s Hospital, Madera, CA. https://www.valleychildrens.org/support/ways-to-give/financial-giving/donate-money/donate-to-valley-childrens.

Please join us in remembering Dolores Jean Crites by visiting our Memorial at www.stratfordevansfunerals.com

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