June M. Crites

June M. Crites, 99, a resident of Gnadenhutten for more than 80 years, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2025 at Hennis Care Center in Bolivar. 

Born in Goshen on June 19, 1926, to the late James C. and Helen M. (Reymond) Carlisle, June was one of ten children. She attended Goshen Elementary and Midvale High School. 

June married the love of her life, the late Dallas R. Crites, on August 29, 1943. The two were married for 62 years prior to his passing. 

June often fondly remembered volunteering as a young girl with her grandmother in the canteen at the Dennison Depot during WWII. When her children were in elementary school, she began working in the cafeteria for the Gnadenhutten school system. She went on to spend most of her career as the head custodian at Indian Valley South High School. When she wasn’t at the school, she could often be found helping Dallas load his milk truck or assisting with other parts of his business. 

Later in life, June discovered a passion for quilting and created more than 100 quilts, cutting, piecing, sewing, and hand quilting each one herself. She also enjoyed making wax candles for the church’s Christmas celebrations. 

In 2025, she was honored to serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2025 Gnadenhutten July 4th Parade, an experience that brought her great joy and pride. 

Most significantly, she was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. June is survived by her daughter, Diana Helter; her son, Jeffrey Crites and his companion, Carol Dawson; six grandchildren, Tim (Colleen) Helter, Lorri (Rick) Ciatto, Brian Galbraith, Shawn (Stewart) Batts, Dena (Richard) Affolter, and Jason (Sara) Crites; eleven great-grandchildren; two step-great grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; three step great-great-grandchildren and her dog, Thor. 

Completing the family are her siblings, Joe Carlisle, Wanda Golder, Margie Levengood and Linda Edie; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her parents and husband, June was preceded in death by her daughter, Carolyn “Kernie” Crites; her son-in-law, Homer Helter; and her siblings, Dorothy Hibbs, James Carlisle, Faye Meese, Dan Carlisle and Thomas Carlisle. 

Friends are invited to call Friday, December 12, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral will be held in John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church on South Walnut St. at Gnadenhutten on Saturday, December 13 beginning at 1 p.m. 

Burial will follow at the Gnadenhutten-Clay Union Cemetery. Following the committal service, a reception will be given in the church fellowship hall. 

Memorial contributions can be made to the John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church, PO Box 126, Gnadenhutten, Ohio 44629, or the charity of the donor’s choice.