Crain celebrates 100th birthday

Kerrville resident Glen Crain recently celebrated his 100th birthday at the local VFW, one of his favorite places, surrounded by family and friends.

A World War II veteran, Crain served as a medic in the U.S. Army’s 103rd Infantry Division, also known as “Cactus Patch,” because of the design of their division patch that features a cactus.

While attempting to retrieve a wounded soldier during battle in France, Crain was shot and wounded himself, an event that ultimately shaped his future.

Crain’s daughter, Janet Smajstrla, explained that as a medic, Crain was not armed and his duty as a medic was apparent by the white arm band with a red cross he wore.

“My dad told me once that the sniper could have killed him if he wanted,” Smajstrla said.

Crain was shot in the wrist and was rescued by three soldiers, who transported him to a field hospital, Smajstrla said.

“He ended up on a train to Paris, where he stood for 20 hours. He was in England for a while and finally was transported to Harmon Hospital near Longview, Texas, where he received medical care for more than a year and underwent multiple surgeries,” Smajstrla said. “He really compliments the doctors who worked so hard to save his hand.”

While there were definitely difficult and challenging times during his stay, Crain also experienced a life-changing moment, when he met and fell in love with one of the nurses that was caring for him.

Smajstrla said her mother, Lillie, and Glen met in March of 1945 and were married in November of 1946.

Lillie was an accomplished nurse and was the president of her class at Baylor School of Nursing, Smajstrla said.

“After the war, mom moved to Dallas to work at Baylor Hospital,” Smajstrla said. “When Dad got out of the hospital, he went to SMU on the GI Bill and earned a degree in chemistry.”

After obtaining his degree, Crain and Lillie moved to Houston, where Crain worked for a chemical company in Pasadena and eventually retired from Texas Utilities in Dallas.

Smajstrla described her dad as very independent, even at 100, and practical.

“He is very analytical, logical and extremely intelligent … and sometimes stubborn, but you don’t get to be 100 years old without being stubborn,” Smajstrla said.

Having lived through the fallout of the Great Depression, both Crain and Lillie were very practical and wanted the best lives for their children. Crain was born in a log cabin in Fay, Oklahoma.

“They saw education as a way to ensure we would have a better life than they did,” Smajstrla said. “Once when my sister was sick while attending higher education classes, my dad took time off from work to go to school for her, so she didn’t get behind.”

Smajstrla’s sister, Marilyn, became a pediatrician and now lives in Austin. Their brother, Steve, lives in Colombia, South America,   and is a retired Certified Public Accountant. Smajstrla retired from Kerrville ISD, where she was a classroom teacher.

Family, honesty, and dedication were staples of the Crain family core values.

“Honesty was very important in our home. Our parents taught us that family is important ... honoring your family and doing your best,” Smajstrla said.

Smajstrla, the youngest, said she was crazy about her dad growing up and still is.

“I was crazy about him. He was sacrificial for us as a family, complicated, and loving. They just gave up so much for us,” Smajstrla said. “They were determined that our life would be better than theirs. Education was important for them, because they knew that was the way out of the poverty they grew up in.”

Smajstrla said Crain is a voracious reader, very inquisitive and still tries to figure out how things work.

“He loved being a chemist and still tries to figure things out. I had him out one time recently. We went to an appointment, and I got a sandwich and a coke. I put the straw in the coke and bubbles came up and he explained to me how and why that happened,” Smajstrla said.

Lillie passed away on Feb. 25, 2021, but Crain found solace in being active, often spending time at the VFW or Acapulco Restaurant.

“One of his favorite things lately has been going to the VFW. He has enjoyed the camaraderie of spending time with fellow veterans very much since,” Smajstrla said. “He and my mom used to eat at Acapulco every day. They were so good to them and when my mom passed away, they came to her funeral. He has very good friends.”

Smajstrla and her husband live in Kerrville, and she spends as much time with him as she can.

While looking back at her life with her dad on his 100th birthday, Smajstrla recalled what she said is one of her favorite memories.

“When he was 91, my sister and I traveled with our dad to France. We visited all the places he went during the war. That was very special to us all,” Smajstrla said.

In addition to all of the character traits she mentioned, Smajstrla said Crain is very goal-oriented and one of his goals was to live to be 100.

Crain remains active and enjoys visiting with his children, five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.