Dr. Donald Craig

Donald R. Craig, M.D. passed away after a brief illness on August 10, 2010. He was 77.
Services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. August 14, 2010 at First United Methodist Church of Lubbock with Dr. Craig Curry and Rev. Marisue Smith presiding. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home, 5740 19th St.
Donald was born October 17, 1932 in Elk City, Oklahoma to Dan Craig and Mida Gibens Craig. Orphaned at the age of 4, he grew up in the Methodist Children's Home in Waco with three of his siblings. Don graduated with honors from Waco High School, attended the University of Texas in Austin. He completed his medical training at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1957.
Don married Delia Ann Asberry in 1957. They were married for 53 years. They spent three years in Germany when Don was in the Army Medical Corp. They returned to Dallas in 1961 where he completed his pediatric residency at Children's Medical Center. In 1963 Don and Dee moved to Lubbock where he established a private practice in pediatrics which lasted 20 years.
Don was part of the TTU Health Science Center from its inception in 1979. He volunteered in the Pediatric Clinic for 10 years and eventually cut back his private practice to devote more time to the clinic. He eventually gave up private practice entirely to chair the Health Sciences Pediatric Clinic, where he remained for 6 years. Don also enjoyed lecturing in the Pediatric Department at TTUHSC and continued until 2005. He also was the volunteer director of the Lubbock Muscular Dystrophy Clinic for 20 years.
Don was president of the Lubbock-Crosby-Garza County Medical County Medical Society and served on the Lubbock County Health Board and the Ronald McDonald House Board. He was a member of the Lubbock Rotary Club.
Don was a member of First United Methodist Church of Lubbock for 47 years. He helped pioneer the Mexico Mission Ministry at the church, bringing his compassion to children and their parents. He was an avid supporter and volunteer for FUMC's Second Helpings ministry for five years. He was honored in 2005 as a Mission Hero of First United Methodist Church.
In 1997 Don was named a Distinguished Alumnus by Methodist Children's Home Alumni Association, which he continued to support during his adult life.
Aside from his family and busy professional life, Don enjoyed participating in sports. He began jogging before running shoes were created. He played tennis and biked. He loved snow skiing, especially with his family. His yard and garden were a source of pride.
He is survived by his wife, daughter Dana Hornung and granddaughter Heather of Tacoma WA; son David Craig of Denver, CO and grandchildren Austin and Holly of San Antonio, TX; daughter Carol Craig Reifsnyder and son-in-law Andrew, and grandchildren Erin and Emery of Austin, TX; and son Richard Craig of Lubbock. He also is survived by two sisters, Louise Broadbelt of Hersey, PA and Lorene Thomas of Little Rock, AK.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Stella Wells of Little Rock, AK and his brother Col. Dan Craig of San Antonio, TX.
He was well-loved and will be sorely missed by all whose lives he touched. The family suggests memorials to, the Texas tech Department of Pediatrics, 3601 4th Street, MS 9406, Lubbock, TX 79430 or to FUMC's Second Helpings Ministry, 1411 Broadway, Lubbock, TX, 79401.