Steve M. Crittenden

October 11, 1945 – July 8, 2024 - Steve Crittenden, 78, passed away on July 8, 2024 due to complications from a stroke at the Select specialty hospital in Richmond Virginia.

Steve was born at Naval Hospital, Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina on October 11, 1945 to Chuck and Marellen Crittenden. His dad, a Marine, served in WWII and the Korean War. He moved the family to Camp Pendleton toward the end of WWII and eventually moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon where Steve grew up and graduated from Lake Oswego High, class of 63. Steve attended the University of Oregon and later joined the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC). He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in July 1967 and served as an infantry officer. He served a tour in Vietnam where he participated in the Battle of Khe Sanh. He left active duty in the Marine Corps in 1971 and served as a reservist only to come back into the Corps in February 1975. He met his wife, Ann, while on a tour as a Public Affairs Officer in New York City where he ultimately convinced Ann that joining the Marine Corps would be the only occupation she should choose! Their long careers took them to Cherry Point NC, Los Angeles, California where Steve served as the Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station Los Angeles and Okinawa Japan where he again served as the Commanding Officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion, 3d Force Service Support Group (renamed later as Marine Logistics Group (MLG). He served honorably until April 1991 and retired. Upon retirement from the Marine Corps, he and his wife Ann and their three children, Zeph, Michael and Maddie, made Stafford, Virginia their home.

He loved the Marine Corps and continued to be of service in a variety ways as a retiree. He was the Managing Editor of the Marine Corps Gazette Magazine for 12 years and became very proficient in many writing styles. He was published in numerous publications and newspapers such as the Washington Post, Free Lance Star Fredericksburg, VA, U.S. Naval Institute periodical Proceedings, and edited the Marine Corps ammunition quarterly magazine, Ammunition Quarterly.

Steve’s passions were duck hunting, environmental issues, golf and baseball. He managed to keep all the taxidermists on the Eastern Seaboard gainfully employed. He was famous for his distinctive license plate: NOCRYNG. (There is no crying in baseball!) He was an active supporter of Ducks Unlimited and was a member of the Pentagon Ducks Unlimited Chapter. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Army Navy Club Washington DC and the Heritage Foundation. Every April when the Masters golf Championship was aired, he was front and center with his egg salad sandwiches and chips!!

Steve is survived by his wife Ann, LtCol USMC (Retired); his children from his first marriage to Nancy Szabo of Half Moon Bay California, Chad Crittenden of Livermore California, and Mollie Crittenden of Oakland, California. His children with Ann include:

W. Zeph Crittenden, LtCol USMC, of Cape Carteret, North Carolina, Steven Michael Crittenden, Jr of the home, and Maddie Crittenden of Norfolk, VA. He is also survived by his brother Jay Crittenden of Gig Harbor, Washington, Sue Crittenden of Lake

Oswego, Oregon and Carol Jane Crittenden of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Steve has five grandchildren, Clara Crittenden, Trevor Crittenden, Amani Crittenden, Asante Crittenden, and Matthew Crittenden. Four nieces and nephews, Hayley Crittenden Platt, Jayson Crittenden, Cameron Crittenden and Sean Crittenden of Portland Oregon and Gig Harbor, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ducks Unlimited non-profit organization in his name. A memorial service will be held September 14, 2024 at the Mullins Thompson Funeral Home, Stafford, Virginia at 1200. A second memorial service will be held in Lake Oswego, OR on a date yet to be determined. A private inurnment service will be held at the Quantico National Cemetery at a later date.