William Alfred Craig (Bill), 89, of Port Republic (formerly of Huntingtown) passed peacefully from this life into the presence of his Lord and Savior on February 7, 2019. Bill was born on July 11, 1929, in New Hope, Virginia, delivered at home by his Cherokee grandmother. He was the third of eleven children born to Hensel and Estalena (Aldhizer) Craig.
He quit school at the age of 16 in order to support the family and later earned his GED in the Air Force. His previous employers were Willbarger’s Funeral Home, Berol Pencil Company and Virginia State Highway before joining the Air Force in 1952 where he served four years in active duty and four years in the reserves. Bill rose quickly through the ranks and was a Tech Sergeant before being honorably discharged.
He went on to work as a jet engine mechanic on Andrews AFB, 89th Squadron, and had the privilege of working on Air Force One for numerous presidents. He was known to all as a master mechanic and if an engine could not pass “test cell”, Craig was called in to fix it. Bill was a jack of all trades – he could build anything, fix anything, make parts if need be, and was an amazing restorer of antique cars, including a 1928 Chevrolet Roadster, a 1928 Chevrolet Stationwagon, and a 1955 Chevrolet 2 Door Hardtop.
He was also the proud owner of a 1985 Chevrolet truck that never saw snow and very rarely rain. Bill loved going to antique car meets, especially in Hershey, digging through boxes of car parts – he could pick up any part and tell you the year, make and model of the car that the part was for. Bill married the love of his life, Evelyn (Grimm), on March 5, 1949 and they would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in a few weeks.
They had two daughters many years after marrying; Wanda Riffe (John) and Karen Hinkle (Chuck). In addition to his wife and daughters, Bill is survived by (and was so very proud of) his grandchildren April Richardson (Mike), Amber Yates (Ted), Michael Heamstead (Tiffany), Charlie Hinkle and Kenneth Hinkle. He was also the great grandfather to John Brody and Ryan Richardson, Kinsley and Sullivan Yates and the upcoming Baby Heamstead.
Bill is survived by his siblings Charles, Eugene Ray and Arlene Mae. Bill was predeceased by his parents, Hensel and Estalena Craig, and siblings Clarence, Dorothy, David, Nellie Louise, Shirley, Irene Faye, and Wayne. Bill never met a stranger – he would talk to anyone and everyone.
He had a heart of gold and would do anything for anybody. He would never deny a stranger’s request for food and that request was never the minimum he could purchase – it was always whatever the person wanted, entrée, salad, dessert, beverage and anything else that was desired. Bill was more than willing to babysit his grandchildren and great grandchildren, help out on any project that was going on and would slip money into the hands of those he felt had a need.
Bill’s passing will be mourned by not only his family but by many, many friends as well. Bill attended Full Gospel Assembly of God in Prince Frederick, Maryland. He was instrumental in building the church in the late 1960’s, as well as the addition in the mid-1970’s.
Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to Full Gospel Assembly of God, 890 Solomons Island Road South, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of William Alfred Craig please visit our Sympathy Store.
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