Francis W. Craig

Craig, Francis W. (Colonel, U.S. Army,retired), 87, died on Friday, February 20, 2015 after a long struggle with the effects of Parkinson?s disease.

Francis is the beloved husband of Jeanne Colgan "Bamby" Craig; loving father of Francis (Kathleen), Joseph, James (Susan) and Jeanne Marie Craig; dear grandfather of Molly, Catherine, Colgan, John, Rohan and Caleb; dear brother of Barbara Boyle, Sister Constance Craig SHCJ, Michael Craig and the late Louis, Sister Malin RSHM, William and Faith.

Francis strongly believed in service and faith. He was born in Arlington, MA into a military family. Like his grandfather, father and a brother before him, Francis attended the United States Military Academy (West Point, NY), graduating in 1951. In 1967 he earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. He served the country as an army officer for thirty years, including infantry combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. Later in his career, he served as a personnel officer and focused on raising his four children in faith. He retired from the Army in St. Louis having reached the rank of Colonel.

Even after a full career of service to the country, Francis continued to serve the community as a high-school teacher. For an additional decade, he taught mathematics and physics to students at St. Louis? Central High School for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Francis retired for the second time in 1995 and spent his time volunteering, traveling with his wife of 49 years, visiting his children, and participating in Volksmarches (German-styled walking events) all around the country.

Francis? outlook on faith, family and service was shaped by his Catholic upbringing. He was a 37 year member of the St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Manchester where he was particularly active in serving the youth. He was a long-time Parish School of Religion (PSR) teacher and he mentored Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in their pursuit of religious emblems. Francis was a hospice volunteer, a dedicated apheresis platelet donor with the Red Cross, and he drove for Meal-on-Wheels in the West County area.

Services: Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Manchester, Saturday, 11:00 a.m. Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at a date and time to be determined. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church chapter of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, Manchester, or the St. Louis Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Assn., Chesterfield. Visitation at the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Ballwin, Friday 4-8 p.m. and at the church, Saturday 10:30 a.m. until time of mass. Friends may sign the family?s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.