William Henry Critchlow, 83, of Loxahatchee, Fla., and West Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of Harrisville, died at 5:09 a.m. Thursday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

He was born on March 7, 1928, in Harrisville, to Lee R. Critchlow and Susie A. (McFadden) Critchlow.

He graduated from Harrisville High School and was a self-employed farmer and a commercial egg producer.

He was a member of the Harrisville United Methodist Church. He also was a member of the Concerned Horsemans Association, and he was a former 4-H leader.

He was an avid horseman, traveling with his Tennessee Walking horses all over the United States following his retirement in the early 1980s. He was forced to stop riding in the fall of 2010. Horses were always his passion, and it hurt him deeply to lose that last bit of joy and freedom. He was a member of the Palm Beach County Civilian Mounted Horsemen with the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Department for many years.

He also worked as a consultant for an exotic bird sanctuary in Loxahatchee, Fla.

He married Mildred R. (Cummings) Critchlow on Feb. 21, 1950. She died on Feb. 6, 1994.

Surviving are his three sons, Lee R. Critchlow and his wife, Dorothy, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., Mark A. Critchlow and his wife, Sherrie, of Loxahatchee, Fla., and Bryan E. Critchlow and his companion, Vicki Marshall, of Greenacres, Fla.; one daughter, Betty Sivik and her companion, Michael Reed, of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Ethel Yard and her husband, Richard, of Grove City; and one brother, Dale Critchlow and his wife, Alice, of Burlington, Vt.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and one brother, Dean Critchlow and his wife, Velma.

<B>CRITCHLOW</B> — Friends of William Henry Critchlow, who died Thursday, March 1, 2012, may call from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday at the Harrisville United Methodist Church, South Main Street, Harrisville.The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. at the church with Pastor William T. Gilligan officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Cemetery Harrisville.Memorial contributions can be made to the Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania, Landmarks Building, 100 W. Station Square Drive, Suite 1920, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.Arrangements are entrusted to <B>Jamison Funeral Home,</B> Harrisville.Online condolences may be submitted at www.jamisonfuneralhome.com.