Biography: Harry Criner, “Bear” to many, passed away in the exceptional Palliative Care wing of the VA Hospital in Little Rock.  Many years ago, at his wife’s urging, he wrote his obituary.  His years in the Marines, his years in undergraduate and graduate school, and his years as a tennis professional were all important to him.
 
Harry grew up in Little Rock.  Centennial Grammar, Westside Junior High, Little Rock High, now Little Rock Central, anchored his early years. He then attended LSU, U of A, Fayetteville, and graduated from the University of Texas, Class of 1957, with a French major and Russian minor. He attended graduate school at San Diego State, again with a focus on French.
 
Harry served in the US Marine Corps for eight years as a communications officer at Quantico, Virginia, Twentynine Palms, San Diego, California, and Okinawa, Japan.
 
In Little Rock, he worked as a tennis professional at the Country Club of Little Rock and at Walker and Rebsamen Tennis Centers for over twenty years.
 
His wife, Patty Howe Criner, appreciated Harry’s brief and concise story of his life, as you often hear, “in his own words.”  Yet, for Patty, there had to be more.  Her “Bear” was a fascinating soul, who had countless interests. So….
 
Before Harry left San Diego, where he honed his tennis skills, he wrote a novel.  It was never published, nor may have never been submitted for possible publishing.  He wrote for years on his novel.  Then, he wanted to learn to ski and moved to Aspen, Colorado, where he lived and worked in the Jerome Hotel, while mastering the slopes.
 
Then back to Little Rock to focus on playing and teaching tennis.  He continued writing and writing – short stories, essays, and one play.  He was fascinated with word derivatives, grammar, and all languages.  He was quite the wordsmith.
 
Harry was somewhat of a renaissance man, knowledgeable in a wide range of fields.  He was a talented writer, photographer, translator, stock market enthusiast, and music lover. He actually taught himself to read music and play the piano,
 
Harry was a self-actualized individual who was artistic, uncomplicated, and joyful.  He never complained once – nor was he ever bored or not engaged in one of his many interests.

Bear was a gentleman, kind, pleasant, nice, smart and engaged.  He was a great travel companion, an easy fellow to live with, and made and delivered a swell breakfast to me most mornings.
Thank you, Bear, for our 44 plus years.  I love you.
There will be no funeral service.
For any memorials, please consider the Thea Foundation, 401 Main Street, Suite 100, North Little Rock, Ar. 72114