A graveside memorial service for Wiley Miller Crittenden Jr., 77, of Rayle, was held Wednesday, March 17, 2010, at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery in Rayle, with Rev. Jim Newsome officiating. He died Friday, March 12, at his home.

Mr. Crittenden was born in Sycamore, Georgia, and was the son of Wiley Miller Crittenden and Willa Giles Crittenden. He served in the United States Army in Korea from 1952 through 1954. He attended the University of Georgia where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. Following graduation in 1956, he worked 10 years for the Chemical Sales Division of 3M Corporation. During his travels, he became aware of the growing elderly population and the need for facilities for their care. He opened his first long-term care facility in 1966 in Greenville, S.C., and established three more in neighboring communities over the next few years. In the late 1970s he was president of the American Health Care Association and served two years as chairman of the association’s foundation. It was during this time that he and his wife Ann visited in the Oval Office with three different presidents. After selling the facilities in 1986, the Crittendens moved to the farm in Wilkes County where Mrs. Crittenden grew up. They enjoyed a new career growing ornamental shrubbery and trees that were sold throughout the Southeast. Crittenden was a strong supporter of Wills Memorial Hospital and supported all efforts to preserve and improve it. He had served as chairman of the Wills Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Ann Arnold Crittenden; two daughters and their husbands, Catherine and Drew Maenza, and Nancy and Douglas Heiney; two sons and their wives, Wiley Miller Crittenden III and his wife Jennifer, and Lewis Maxell and Suzanne Crittenden; grandchildren, Bryeen, Walker, and Cole Maenza, Kyle and Sarah Heiney, Anna, Sims, Wiley IV and Lewis Crittenden Jr.; his sister, Jean Crittenden Morris; a brother, Robert Crittenden; and several beloved nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Claire Giles Crittenden; and beloved sister-in-law, Frances Arnold Harvey.

Memorials may be directed to the Claire Giles Crittenden Foundation, 2605 Highway 153, Piedmont, S.C. 29673; or the Wills Memorial Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 370, Washington, Ga. 30673.

Hopkins Funeral Home of Washington was in charge of arrangements.