1929
William "Bill"
2015
William "Bill" H. Craven, Jr.
November 1, 1929 — December 4, 2015
Mr. Craven was the son of the late Marion Easterling Craven and William Herbert Craven. He married his beloved Lois (the late Lois Anita Kearse Craven) in 1951. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Ann Craven Poteat; two children, William H. Craven, III (Harriet) and Pamela Ann Craven McKinsey (Tim); two grandchildren, Sally Ann McKinsey Sisk (Drew), and Robert Craven McKinsey; two brothers-in- law; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bill was a 1950 graduate of Clemson University with a B.S. in Agronomy. He served his country on active military duty with the U.S. Army during the Korean War and as a major with the S.C. Army National Guard 1954 - 1968. Agriculture and serving farm families were Bill's life work. During his career as an agronomist in South Carolina and Georgia, he worked as an Agricultural Extension Agent in Edgefield and Saluda Counties in SC and in Burke County, GA. Bill was a gifted writer and photographer with a passion for capturing farming and farm life. He was also a respected public communicator in radio and television. During his extension career, he received national recognition and multiple awards for his weekly agricultural news column and accompanying photographs. His agricultural pictorial collection graces the halls of the Burke County Office Park. During the 1970's and '80's, Bill produced and hosted Agriculture Is King which aired weekly on Augusta, Georgia's WAGT-TV. While Bill received many awards during his career, none was more special to him than his University of Georgia 1980 Distinguished Achievement in Public Service and Extension award and his 2015 induction into the Clemson A. Frank Lever County Agent Hall of Fame.
Bill was an active member of the United Methodist Church, serving God as a certified lay speaker, as an adult Sunday School teacher, and on Administrative Boards of First United Methodist Church in Waynesboro, GA and St. Paul United Methodist Church in Saluda, SC. He was an Eagle Scout and the father of an Eagle Scout, and he served as a District Governor of Lions International in South Carolina. Bill loved Clemson University and was proud to be a four generation Clemson family. In the 1990's, he served Clemson as President of the Agricultural Heritage Center at the Edisto Research and Education Center, and he represented Clemson University as a chairman of the Board of Visitors. Bill served on the Queensborough National Bank and Trust Company Board of Directors since 1992.
The family would like to thank the staffs of HarborChase of Aiken and Tidewater Hospice for their loving and gentle care of "Mr. Bill" during the past months. Their many acts of kindness were true gifts to him and to his family.
Visitation will be held at the Burke County Office Park, 715 W. 6th St. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 5 - 7 pm. A Graveside Service will be held at Old Mizpah Methodist Church Cemetery (South Bamberg County, SC) on Thursday, Dec 10 at 10:30 am. A Memorial Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Waynesboro on Thursday, Dec 10 at 3pm. The following gentlemen are asked to serve as Honorary Pallbearers at the Memorial Service: Tommy Edenfield, Stephen Murray, Henry C. Hopkins, III, Bill S. Hargrove, Roy Barefield, Jr., Jody Prescott, Stanton Hillis, Al Perkins, Bill Boyce, John Frankhouser, Andy McElmurray, William F. Easterlin, III, Bill Riser, Larry M. Hodges, Senator Jesse Stone, Phil Perry, and Dr. Tom Dobbins.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests a memorial gift to Mizpah Methodist Church, P.O. Box 138, Olar, SC 29843 or First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 420, Waynesboro, GA 30830 or Edmund Burke Academy P.O. Box 787 Waynesboro, GA 30830.
DeLoach–McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 220 East 6th Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706-554-3531)
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William "Bill" H. Craven, Jr., please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Eastern time)
Burke County Office Park
Graveside Service
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Starts at 10:30 am (Eastern time)
Old Mizpah Methodist Church Cemetery
Memorial Service
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Starts at 3:00 pm (Eastern time)
First United Methodist Church
Photo Gallery
Guestbook
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