Obituary of Herbert Benton Craft

On August 24, 2016, Herbert Benton Craft departed this life after months of declining health surrounded by his family. He was born March 23, 1929 to the late Charlie Benton Craft and Ida Dillon Craft. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Hilda C. Markham & brother-in-law, Dickie Martin. Herbert was a member of Morgans Baptist Church, where he served for many years as a deacon and senior men's sunday school class teacher and in other capacities. He had a passion for music and sang in the church choir at both Hollins Road Church of the Brethren and Morgans Baptist Church for many decades. He also enjoyed singing at nursing homes with friends of Radford Baptist Church and Gravel Hill Baptist Church. He loved to hear his children and grandchildren sing and play various instruments. Herbert was proud of this family and loved them all. Herbert retired from Frank Chervan after over 40 years where he was personnel manager for most of that time. Prior to that, he worked for Roy L. Webber Florist where he arranged and delivered flowers, many of which he grew himself. Herbert, Ruth, his parents and aunt and uncle developed and ran Craft's Waterfront Park, one of the first and the largest of it's time on Smith Mountain Lake. Herbert and Ruth had large vegetable and flower gardens each year and shared the abundant produce with family, friends and neighbors. He served on the board of the Moneta Medical Center, was a member of the Central Virginia Planning District Commission and was a member of the Moneta Ruritan Club. In his lifetime, Herbert was proud to have donated over 70 pints of blood. He was a generous man in his life, so, in death, he donated his body so that others might have a better life. He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Ruth Clement Craft; his children, Rebecca C. "Becky" Jones & husband, Billy of Moneta; Herbert C. Craft & wife, Joan of Riner, Carolyn C. Smith & husband, Richard of Danville, Jonathan Craft of Moneta; eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren; his sisters, Virginia Bowles (Judson), Louise Martin, Barbara St. Clair (Sherman), Effie Mayhew (Ray); brothers-in-law, Melvin Markham, George Clement & wife, Bernice. The family will receive friends beginning at 2 PM on Sunday, August 28, 2016 at Morgans Baptist Church and a memorial service will follow at 3 PM with Rev. Jason Arthur officiating. Arrangements are being handled by Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.