HARDYVILLE—Frederick Spencer “Fred” Crittenden passed away at his home Wednesday, September 27, 2017.
He graduated from Syringa High School and attended Randolph Macon College in Ashland. He played minor league baseball with the Orlando Senators and was drafted into the U.S. Air Force.
In 1953, Fred began full time operation in partnership with his father as T. H. Crittenden & Son, Riverdale Farm raising hogs, cattle, vegetables and grain.
He started a Purebred Duroc Swine herd and developed a livestock export company named Virginia Purebred Livestock International. He was very instrumental in organizing and promoting the swine industry in Virginia and around the world.
Fred was also instrumental in starting the Farm Bureau in Middlesex County. He was a member of the Virginia Purebred Swine Breeders Association, the Donovan Masonic Lodge, Deltaville, and served on the Virginia State Fair board of directors for over 25 years.
Fred was a former member of the board of directors of the Deltaville Civic Association, served on the Middlesex County School Board for nine years, the Middlesex County Board of Supervisors for 32 years, the Middlesex County Social Services Board, Airport Committee and served as liaison to the school board.
He was a player, coach and manager of the Deltaville “Deltas” Baseball Team which he was affiliated with for 70 years.
He always had an interest in the youth of the county and was involved in starting the Middlesex Baseball League for boys, serving as its first president.
Fred was a member of Clarksbury United Methodist Church in Hardyville, serving in various capacities on multiple boards.
He received awards from the Block & Bridle Hall of Fame, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Randolph Macon College, Agri-Business Council Exporter of the Year, Export Import Club Trader of the Year and Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Farm Award and was inducted into the Virginia Livestock Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas H. and Wade V. Crittenden; his son, Frederick Spencer Crittenden Jr.; and a sister, Anna C. Sanders.
Fred is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jane Diggs Crittenden; three children, Susan Valencia (Jose); Thomas S. Crittenden (Jennifer); and Gerald Crittenden (Martha); eight grandchildren, Jay and Ashley Moore, Joseph Valencia, Vaughan and Allison Crittenden, Alexander, Spencer and McDonald Crittenden; two great-grandchildren, Errett and Andi; sister, Helen Culbertson; and brother, Thomas E. Crittenden.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, September 29, in Clarksbury United Methodist Church. Interment followed in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Deltaville Ballpark, P.O. Box 211, Deltaville, VA 23043; or Clarksbury United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 10, Hardyville, VA 23070.
Arrangements by Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda.
