William Elmer Craig Jr.

Bill was born to parents William E. and Margaret Craig on November 23, 1918, in Freeport, PA. He grew up as the youngest of six and graduated from Freeport HS. In 1943, he married Grace Anne Dean and started a family of three children.

After high school, Bill worked for his brother’s roofing & furnace company, then moved on to Allegheny Ludlum Steel to work in accounting before joining the Army Air Corps in 1942. He served during WWII in Morocco, North Africa, earning the Good Conduct, American Theatre Service, and European African Middle Eastern Medals before his honorable discharge in 1945.

Bill returned to Freeport and family and to continue his long career with Allegheny Ludlum. He transferred with the company to Dunkirk, NY, Ferndale, MI, and back to Dunkirk, eventually buying that failing plant with nine other investors and retiring as Controller in 1981.

Bill and Grace Anne moved to Phoenix, AZ, in 1982 to enjoy golf, travel, bicycling, and volunteering with several Fiesta Bowl committees. Bill enjoyed gardening, dogs, puns, softball, and singing lead in a barbershop quartet; he gave of himself through Rotary, as a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, as Chapter President and National Vice President of the Institute of Management Accounting (formerly National Association of Accountants), as a lifetime member of the Shriners serving as local Treasurer for ten years, and a member of the Armstrong County, PA, Masonic Lodge for 76 years.

Bill was also a devoted family man, always supporting his wife and children. He loved being involved in sports with his kids, attending numerous school and theatrical events, and orchestrating fun family vacations. He adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, never missing an opportunity to visit and play games with them.

Bill is survived by his wife, Grace Anne; his daughters, Penny Goering and Sally Brunet, son and wife, Bill and Susan Craig; grandchildren: Jessica Layne, Megan (Rick) Westerhoff, Lisa (Steve) Williams, Brandon Goering, Lauren (Kristen) Craig, Jenna Craig, and Katie Craig; and great-grandchildren: Tony Westerhoff, Jack Westerhoff, and Elijah Maxedon.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William E., Sr. and Margaret, his siblings, Ruth Keebler, Richard Craig, Ethel Bowden, C. Homer Craig, and Dorothy Cullen.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, August 15, at Provident Crossings in Round Rock, TX. Urn burial with military honors will follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Humane Society.

Condolences and memories may be shared with his family at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com.