T.K. Criswell (Plainview)

T.K. Criswell died November 20, 2013 at home after a lengthy illness. His wife Nelda and their daughter Randi Webster were in attendance. He was 89 years old. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, November 22, 2013 at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Max Browning officiating and Rev. Jeff Taylor assisting. Burial will follow in Plainview Memorial Park under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. Criswell grew up in Anton, Tx. the oldest of E.D. and Purney Criswells’ 4 children. After graduating from Anton High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served a full tour of duty on the New Orleans, a cruiser class ship involved in most of the primary battles in the Pacific Theater of WWII. On returning to Anton after the war, the town’s people elected him mayor. He served for 6 months and organized the installation of the town’s first sanitary sewer system. He resigned his office and enrolled as a freshman at Texas Tech University. After transferring to Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, he met Nelda Rankin. They were married in 1948 . He worked many years as a farmer, entomologist and agri-businessman, retiring from his own company, Criswell Cotton. He was a lifelong Methodist and active in First UMC, Plainview for several decades. Criswell was also a prolific local philanthropist, supporting everything from 4-H to youth baseball. T.K. and Nelda had four children, Rick (d. 1973), Randi, Sam and Reed. Three grandchildren, Chance and Ry Webster, of Lubbock and Conor Criswell of Creedmoor, NC.. He is survived by one brother, Stanley Criswell of Lubbock.