Crayton Gilsdorf Sr.

Crayton L. Gilsdorf Sr. NORFOLK - Crayton Lee Gilsdorf Sr., 86, of the 1100 block of Land St., passed away Aug. 19, 2009, in Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center. A native of Columbus, Ohio, he was the son of the late Hazel F. and Albert P. Gilsdorf Sr. Crayton attended Maury High School before being drafted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. He served as a Morse Code operator in Alaska transmitting weather reports to the Pacific ring where he was promoted to staff sergeant. He returned to Norfolk in 1945 after World War II and worked for Hoffman Cigar as a route salesman. In 1960, he went to work for Twin City Tobacco Company until his retirement at the age of 72. He was a 50-year member of the George W. Wright Masonic Lodge No. 346 AF&AM. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Virginia Lee Gilsdorf; his daughter, Brenda G. Harris of Norfolk; his son, Crayton Lee Gilsdorf Jr. and wife Freida Lockwood Gilsdorf, both of Norfolk; four grandchildren, Jessica, Justin and fiancée Julie and their son Riley, Jillian and Jenny Lee; his brother, Albert P. Gilsdorf Jr. of Virginia Beach; a sister-in-law, Catherine Lee Gilsdorf of Roanoke; and six nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert W. Gilsdorf. A funeral will be conducted Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Drive Chapel, with Pastor James Blalock officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday from 7 to 8 p.m. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.