J. D. Kroft

J. D. Kroft
of Johnson CityJ. D. Kroft, age 79, went to be with his Lord on August 26. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather; a committed Christian; a veteran; and a staunch patriot. Besides his wife, Jean, he is survived by daughter, Cherie Murray and her husband, Tom; son, Michael and his wife, Kathy; and son, Kevin and his wife, Antoinette. He loved his grandchildren: Adam Kroft and wife, Barbara; Thomas C. Murray and wife, Tammy; Steven Kroft; Aaron Kroft; and Todd Plourde and wife, Cristin. Born in Logansport, Indiana, J.D. received his BSEE degree from Purdue University and his MSIM degree from M.I.T. as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow. He joined IBM in 1949, became a senior engineer there in 1957, and held a variety of management positions at IBM, including Advisor to the Director of German Laboratories, Manager of Product Engineering, Consultant on the IBM Corporate Staff, and Manager of Quality Improvement Programs for both the Systems Products and Systems Technology Divisions. After retirement from IBM, he did consulting work for IBM, DuPont, General Telephone, Sealand, and other companies, and served for four years as Vice-President of Quality Assurance for the Link Division of the Singer Company. J.D.'s community activities include 16 years as a deacon of the Endicott First Baptist Church; Vice-President of the Endicott Jr. Chamber of Commerce; and Chairman of the Christian Coalition of Broome County. At the time of his death, he had been a member of the First Baptist Church of Johnson City for over 30 years. Among J.D.'s proudest achievements were two books which he authored, most recently Little Gems of Wisdom: Advice from Grandpa. After his passion for God, country, and family, his greatest satisfaction came from piloting his Piper Comanche; playing pool at his winter home in Jensen Beach, Florida and bridge with his many good friends; and traveling the world with his wife, Jean, his high school sweetheart and soulmate. He has left a matchless legacy for his family and all who knew him, and will be sorely missed until we see him again.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Johnson City, 12 Baldwin Street, Johnson City, with his pastor, Rev. Jim Murphy officiating. Burial will be in Riverhurst Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Barber Memorial Home Inc., 428 Main St., Johnson City, on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Capital Campaign Fund of the First Baptist Church of Johnson City.