Oct 14, 2018

William Rea Craig, 78, of Burgettstown, passed away with family nearby Sunday, October 14, 2018, in Washington Hospital.

Bill was born August 5, 1940, in Warren, Ohio, the youngest son of William D. Craig and Mary Elizabeth Smiley.

He was a 1958 graduate of Union High School, Burgettstown. Soon after graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he proudly served his country on the USS William C. Lawe from 1958 to 1961.

After being discharged from the Navy, Bill worked as a mechanic at Climax Molybdenum in Langeloth, until his retirement in 2002.

He was a member of Burgettstown Presbyterian Church and Richard Vaux Lodge 454, F&AM, in Burgettstown. Over the years, he spent much of his free time designing and welding decorative pieces as gifts for his wife, and even creating occasional pieces at the request of his coworkers.

Bill met his beloved wife, Rosalie, by chance at a dance hall in 1959. After only three short dances and a quiet walk home, Bill and Rosalie embarked on a love many could only dream of. Merely a year later on June 11, 1960, William Rea Craig married Rosalie Miller, and they began a life filled with love and admiration. Together, they raised their two children and spent countless hours being an example of love and devotion to not only their children, but also their grandchildren and eventually their great-grandchildren. Bill was an incredibly caring and selfless man, who always put his family, especially his beloved Rose, above all else.

Surviving, in addition to his wife Rose, are his daughter, Sheila (Barry) Hamilton of McKees Rocks; five grandchildren, Erica (Kenny) Plute of McDonald, Trista (Ben) Snatchko of Joffre, Brandon Culley of Erie, William (Kylee) Craig of Washington and Bryce Craig of Burgettstown; 11 great-grandchildren, Lorelei, Waylon, Talen, Alivia, Starlily, Henry, Maci, Charlee, Acen, Annika and Levi; a brother, James (Nila) Craig of Littlestown; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to his parents, is his son, William Craig Jr.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Lee & Martin Funeral Home, 73 Highland Avenue, Burgettstown, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 18, with the Rev. Cinda Isler, Pastor of Burgettstown Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township, with full military honors accorded by the U.S. Navy. The members of Richard Vaux Lodge 454 will conduct a Masonic service at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.