Allen "Bill" Craig

Allen "Bill"
Wilson Craig
September 30, 1918 - February 2, 2014

Former Grand Junction resident Bill Craig passed away peacefully on February 2, 2014, in Surprise, Arizona. Bill was born to Dr. Walter S. Craig, DVM and Sarah Craig in Paonia, Colorado. He graduated from Montrose High School in 1937.
Bill served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945 on board the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans. Bill received a commendation for outstanding service during six major campaigns in the Pacific. Bill survived a torpedo hit on the USS New Orleans which took 178 lives and destroyed the ship's bow, requiring extensive repairs in Australia.
On May 22, 1949, Bill married Nina Leonardelli, in Montrose, Colorado and they spent 57 happy years together.
Bill worked as a trucker in Grand Junction and in 1965, started his own trucking company. He worked as a heavy equipment operator and construction superintendent in the United States, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
He is survived by nieces and nephews, Bob Craig, Rainier, OR; Jeanie (Craig) Roper, Grand Junction, CO; Sharilyn (Evans) Figueroa, Apple Valley, MN; David Evans, Evergreen, CO; Janie (Craig) Pekrul, Salt Lake City, UT; Stuart Craig, Centerville, UT; Cheryl (Craig) Young, Montrose, CO; Gayle (Craig) Anderson, Sarasota, FL; Ron Heath, Highlands Ranch, CO; Russell Heath, Gilbert, AZ, and Deborah Heath, Portland OR.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Nina; his parents, Walter and Sarah Craig; his brothers, Walter, Gwynne and Wayne, and his sister, Mary Evans.