Dates
Lynn Hampton Crittendon was born July 10, 1928, in Rush Springs, Oklahoma to Ernest and Rhoda (Hall) Crittendon. He passed from this life on September 3, 2025, at age 97. Lynn (or Crit, as he known to family and friends) was rancher, managing the Moore Ranch of Valentine Texas for over 65 years.
Lynn grew up in the small south Oklahoma community of Rush Spring among a large extended family in the midst of the Great Depression. His father ran a Cotton Gin during the season and a feed store the rest of the year while raising a large garden and steers to support the family which included four brothers and a sister. Once he was old enough Lynn helped in the feed store until he suffered a case of pneumonia due to the dust. His mother refused to allow him back in the feed store and he worked in a hardware store until he left for college. Lynn was a stand-out high school basketball player and due to his height and skills he was told he could try and walk on to the Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) team coached at that time by Hank Iba. Since they could not offer him a scholarship he chose not to try and worked as a cook in a dorm cafeteria during the school year and loaded watermelons during the harvest months in summer to put himself through college obtaining a degree in Petroleum Geology. His next older brother, Bob, had come home from WWII and was just ahead of him in school pursuing a degree in Petroleum Engineering. Bob actually taught Lynn in at least one class. Lynn participated in Army ROTC while at Oklahoma A&M. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Ordinance Branch. Upon completion of his ordinance officer training in Aberdeen Maryland, he was assigned as installation ordinance officer of White Sand Proving Ground, NM (now known as White Sands Missile Range). During his two years there, he met his future wife Katherine Jane Moore who taught at the base elementary school. They courted, enjoying times in Las Cruces, El Paso and Juarez. His final year of active duty was spent in Germany. Upon his return and discharge from active-duty Lynn and Jane were married in Marfa, Texas on September 25, 1954.
Upon leaving active-duty Lynn was hired as a petroleum geologist by Haliburton Corporation and the newlyweds went to Duncan Oklahoma for his initial training and afterwards, he was assigned to Haliburton’s Houston Texas office. After welcoming their first child in November of 1956, the couple decided to accept his father-in-law’s offer to move onto and run the Moore Ranch in Valentine, Texas, which they did in 1957. Lynn
was a fast learner and was soon taking care of the home ranch and three other lease operations. He did keep in touch with his geology skills, serving as a consultant for his older brother Bob for several years. Lynn was also very active in the community serving for several years on the local school board, helped establish the Republican party in Jeff Davis County, served on a legal board in El Paso and was active in the Jeff Davis County Historical Commission. He followed in the footsteps of John Moore in his concern for land conservation and was recognized for his efforts by the State of Texas for his successful efforts on the Moore Ranch.
Lynn was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers George Hall, Cook and Robert (Bob) and his sister Helen. He is survived his sons Bryan (wife Sherri) and Arthur (wife Angela), grandchildren Carl, William, Anna and Dustin and great-grandchildren Harley, Bowen, Candace, Austin and Jack.
The Memorial Service will be 10:00 A.M., Friday, September 12, 2025, at Valentine Community Church, in Valentine, TX.
Family and friends may share condolences and sign the online register book at www.harper-funeralhome.com.