Robert “Bob” Crites, 79

Funeral services for Robert "Bob" Crites, 79, of West Plains, will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Gospel Hill Church of Christ in Pottersville. Visitation services will be held from 1 p.m. until service time. Burial will be in Gospel Hill Cemetery.  

Mr. Crites died Saturday, Feb. 24. He was born Dec. 1, 1944, at his grandmother's house near Blair Bridge on the North Fork River in Ozark County, to the late Jack and Mildred Cobb Crites.  

On May 23, 1965, he was married at Pomona to Ruth Ellen Marcum, who preceded him in death on June 2, 2014. 

In his younger days, Bob was a meat cutter at Garrett's Store in West Plains. He then became the owner/operator of the Dog 'N Suds Drive-In and later the Dairy Princess Drive-In where, with his wife Ruth, he ran successful businesses for many years and was well respected for being an honest and hard worker.  

He was also a farmer, raising beef cattle and Missouri Fox Trotter horses and served as president of Howell County Farm Bureau. 

He served member of the Fairview School Board. 

He was a Christian and had served as a Bible class teacher, an elder and a deacon at the Gospel Hill Church of Christ where he had been a member for over 50 years. 

Bob enjoyed woodworking and fishing with his friends. Despite suffering a major stroke nearly 25 years ago, he thrived and adapted in most of his daily tasks and amazed friends and family with his ability to persevere and overcome. 

He is survived by two children: Rhonda Meyer and husband Marc of Overland Park, Kansas, and Robbie Crites and wife Lynn of the family home in West Plains; five grandchildren: Lindsay Meyer, Jack Meyer, Bo Crites, Coy Crites and Mac Crites; two brothers: Jack Crites and wife Janella of Dora, and Bill Crites and wife Paula of Bakersfield; one sister, Kathy Dillon and husband Greg of Tecumseh; and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, along with special friends, Lanny and Dee Lewis. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and one brother, Don Crites. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Cystic Fibrosis of West Plains or Fair Haven Children’s Home and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.  

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, West Plains. Online condolences may be left at www.robertsondrago.com.