Visitation: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 20, 2018
Location: Menchville Baptist Church
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 21, 2018
Location: World Outreach Worship Center
Surrounded by his family, Robert Overstreet Craft, Sr. (Bobby) passed away and went home to be with the Lord, on September 7, 2018 in Newport News, VA where he resided for 59 years. Bobby was born in New Castle, VA on March 25, 1933. His mother described him as being born with big hands on a snowy morning. Bobby was raised in Roanoke, VA. He held a variety of odd jobs until forging his mother’s signature, allowing him to join the United States Marine Corps at a young age. He was discharged honorably in April 1957.
After being discharged from the USMC, Bobby joined the Newport News Fire Department in 1959. During his career with the fire department, he obtained a variety of ranks, culminating with the assignment as the department’s EMS Chief. During his career, Bobby touched many lives and inspired those around him to achieve greatness. Bobby worked for the fire department for over 30 years, retiring on January 1, 1990.
In the summer, 1961, Bobby met Carolyn Irene Lawrence who wanted nothing to do with him until the spring, 1962 when he won her over with his charm. On June 22, 1963 Bobby and Carol became husband and wife and remained together for 55 years until his passing. One month after their oldest son’s birth, they moved into their life-long home on a street that still retains many of the original families. During their marriage, they had three children who gave them eleven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. They built an eternity’s worth of memories, and he was a hero to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing and being loved by him.
He was preceded in death by his father, Luther Abbott Craft, his mother, Virginia Dare Payne, and his brother James Luther Craft. He is survived by his sister, Jane Barnett, his wife Carol, his three children – Robert Overstreet Craft, Jr. (Jacquie), Richard Lawrence Craft (Vivienne), Kellie Leigh Godfrey (Mika), eleven grandchildren – Sara, David, Kendall (Mike), Brenden, Zachary, Hannah, Nicholas, Gabriel, Christopher, Madeline, Zy, and eleven great-grandchildren – Riley, Landon, Ryder, Jacquie, Jayden, Haidyn, River, Layla, Delilah, Michael and Ronan.
Bobby was a member of World Outreach Worship Center, formerly known as Denbigh Church of God. His children knew him as Daddy, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew him as Papa and all knew him as the greatest man ever. Anyone who knew him would agree that even the Grand Canyon would be challenged to contain his heart.
The family would like to thank their neighbors, members of the Church, friends and coworkers of his children and the Newport News Fire Department. The family would like to specifically thank Dr. Martin Payne and Renee Lynn Rusk. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you love your family as much as he loved us.
The family will receive visitors on Thursday, September 20, 2018, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Menchville Baptist Church (248 Menchville Rd, NN, VA 23602). The funeral service, with full fire department honors, will be held on Friday, September 21, 2018, at 11:00 am at the World Outreach Worship Center (1233 Shields Rd, NN, VA 23602).