Doris Darlene Crickenberger began her journey to heaven on Monday, January 26, 2026.
She was born in rural Bristow, Iowa, in 1928, to Fred Wilder and Bernice (Overturf) Wilder. She enjoyed farm life until age 9, when her father died from a diabetic episode, and her mother was forced to auction off the farm and move to town.
God orchestrated a chance encounter on a bus with a young man heading home to Schuyler, Virginia, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he attended college. Before they parted ways, they’d exchanged addresses, and the USPS was kept busy delivering their letters to each other. By the way, they kept all those letters. They were married on December 20, 1951.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Bernice Wilder; her sister, Valda; her niece, Nylene; her nephew, Earl; her aunts, Fleta (Overturf) Griner and Thelma (Overturf) Mehmen; and her uncle, Hollis Overturf.
She is survived by her best friend and husband of 74 years, Roscoe Crickenberger; their four children: Gary (Terri) Crickenberger, Fred Crickenberger, Claire Kimmel, Robert Crickenberger; granddaughter, Bobbie Jo Fridley, and grandson Daniel (Kip) Milliken. She is also survived by her niece, Nadean Dralle (Joe), and their children, Rachel, Gwen, Cheryl, and Kevin.
She cherished the lifelong friendships she had with the Mehmen, Overturf, Griner, Wilder, DeBerg, Harms, Wendt, Van Dyke, Hahn, Hearn, and Dralle families, as well as all the friends and relatives on the Crickenberger side of the family.
She devoted her life to being a wife, mother, and homemaker, and loved to read, cook, quilt, and sew. She looked forward to the annual trip to Iowa in August, and loved when folks from Iowa headed to Virginia to visit. She never lost her farm girl roots, and loved animals of all sorts, especially cats and dogs.
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2008, and was lovingly cared for in her home by her husband Roscoe, until she peacefully passed away at home on January 26, 2026. The family is grateful and blessed for the many happy memories and for knowing they will be reunited with her one day.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
