Glenn Criswell

GLENN R. CRISWELLPassed away on August 6, 2012 at Manzano Del Sol Health Care Center. He was born in Marlin, TX on December 24, 1918 to Thomas Turner Criswell and Mary Amelia McKinley Criswell. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lena; two daughters, Cathy Criswell Harper of Albuquerque and Bonnie Criswell Mares of Rio Rancho, NM; grandchildren, Richard Matthew Harper of Albuquerque, Laura Ashley Mares and Kimberly Paige Mares of Rio Rancho, NM. He is also survived by two brothers, Ray Barton Criswell (and wife Gerry) of Bryan, TX, Thomas McKinley Criswell, Sr. of Marlin, TX and sister-in-law, Winifred McKinley Criswell of Hillsboro, TX; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Melinda Criswell in 2004; and brothers, J. C. Criswell of Grand Prairie, TX and Travis Turner Criswell of Temple, TX; and a sister, Amelia Myrtlene Criswell Tate of Marlin, TX. He was a graduate of Marlin High School, attended the University of Texas at Austin and was a graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY with a degree in Marine Engineering. He held many jobs growing up in Marlin including delivering newspapers while on horseback and playing in a dance band. He often told the family it would have paid for the price of a hamburger as the group traveled from small town to small town. He worked at the old Majestic Hotel in Marlin earning money which would help to take him to the University of Texas. He played drums in the University band. And just at the beginning of the war, he found jobs in Orange, TX at the Shipyards. He worked in the Panama Canal in an engineering job before joining the Merchant Marine. There his travels began crossing many waters back and forth on a tug boat delivering supplies to many countries for the war effort. He was in Liverpool, England, Australia, Canada, Bora Bora, Fuji Islands, Singapore, and Japan. During these travels he handwrote a diary, hiding it under his pillow on board ship. He shared it with no one until after the war. His family now has it. After the war, he reentered the University of Texas at Austin, and then moved to Houston where he was employed by Fluor Corporation, living a short time in Victoria, TX and back to Houston. From there he and his family moved to Albuquerque where they have resided since 1954. He was employed in Albuquerque at ACF Industries. At the shutdown of the plant, he was employed by GE and from there moved to GTE Lenkurt where he was employed as a Packaging Engineer until his retirement in 1985. He taught his children and grandchildren to have the love of hard work and endurance when things get rough in life. He had great faith. He had been a member of the Baptist church in Marlin, TX but transferred his membership to the Methodist church at Park Place Methodist in Houston and Trinity Methodist in Albuquerque. He has had a long and interesting life. He was a man of integrity. He will be missed. Graveside services will be held at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87107 on Saturday, August 11, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. For family and friends who wish to make contributions in lieu of flowers, we suggest the Manzano Del Sol Staff Endowment Fund, (for Nurses and aides), 5101 Roma NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 or MS Program at Friends in Time, 3900 Osuna, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 or the charity of your choice.