Earle M. Craig Jr.

Earle M. Craig, Jr., age 84, passed away on 20 November 2008.

Mr. Craig was born on 26 March 1924 in Rochester, PA to Mr. Earle M. and Margaret Peters Craig. His childhood was spent in Beaver, PA near Pittsburgh. He graduated from The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, N.J., in 1942 and from Yale University, New Haven, CT with a B.S. degree in Applied Economics in January 1949, in the class of 1945W.

Mr. Craig enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Reserve in September 1942, and graduated from Single-Engine Flying School as Second Lieutenant and rated Pilot at Eagle Pass Army Air Base, Texas in the Class of 1944B. He trained in P-47 Single-Engine Fighters at Bruning, Nebraska, and Abilene and Dalhart, Texas. Mr. Craig flew escort, dive-bombing, napalm bombing, and strafing missions in P-47's as a First Lieutenant and Flight Leader in the 507th Fighter Group, 463rd Fighter Squadron from le Shima, near Okinawa, in July and August 1945. He witnessed the Nagasaki atom-bomb explosion from his airplane on 9 August 1945. Mr. Craig was commissioned Captain in the Eighth Air Force in January 1946 and released from active duty in October 1946. He returned to Yale University and graduated in January 1949.

Earle married Dorothy Elsie Meyer in June 1948 in New York City and they moved from Sewickley, PA to Midland, TX in August 1950. Mr. Craig was self-employed as an independent oil and gas producer from 1950 until the present doing business as Craig, Ltd. and Earle M. Craig, Jr. Corporation.

Mr. Craig's volunteer service included: Chairman of the Board of Deacons and later elder of First Presbyterian Church of Midland where he had been a member for over 50 years; Director of Midland National Bank and its successors; Trustee of The Lawrenceville School, NJ; Trustee of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation; Trustee of the Siasconset Union Chapel, Nantucket Island, Siasconset, MA; Trustee of the Nantucket Historical Association; and he was selected as one of Midland's Centennial Citizens in 1985 by the Leadership Midland Alumni Association. He was also a member of the Order of Indian Wars. Mr. Craig was also very active in the Republican Party both locally and at the national level.

Mr. Craig was a member of the Petroleum Club, Midland Country Club, Racquet Club, Nantucket Yacht Club, Sankaty Golf & Beach Club on Nantucket Island, Yale Club of New York City, and a former Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh and the Allegheny Club of Sewickley.

Mr. Craig is survived by his wife, Dorothy Meyer Craig of Midland; a daughter, Sandra Craig Bessières and her husband Paul of San Francisco, CA, and their children Christianne Bessières Lane and her husband John of Mercerville, N.J., Marshall Bessières of Palo Alto, CA, and Stuart Bessières and his wife KyleAnne of San Francisco, CA; a son, Earle M. Craig III and his wife Brett of Newport Beach, CA, and their sons Bradley Craig and Morgan Earle Craig of Newport Beach, CA; a daughter, Audrey Craig Walker and her husband Philip of Austin, TX, and their children Elaine Walker Trull and her husband Asa, and their daughter Audrey Helen, of Austin, TX, and Blair Walker of Austin, TX; and a daughter Andrea Craig Hungerpiller and her husband Jimmy of Savannah, GA, and their daughter Audrey Randolph Hungerpiller of Savannah, GA; a sister and brother-in-law, Margueritte Craig Stevens and her husband Philip of Skaneateles, N.Y. and Kennebunkport, ME and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service was held 1:00 P.M. Monday, 24 November, at First Presbyterian Church with son, Earle Craig III officiating. Honorary pallbearers were R. C. "Buzzy" Banks, Harry Miller, Bill Kleine, Arden Grover, Bill Hickey, Watson LaForce, Clem George, Bill Marshall, Hal Dean, Charles Dean, Earl Rodman, Jr., Pom Smith, Duncan Kennedy, Jim Ritchie, and Tom Cole.

Memorials may be directed to: First Presbyterian Church (Deacon's Fund), 800 West Texas Avenue, Midland, TX 79701; Midland Memorial Foundation, 2200 West Illinois Avenue, Midland, TX 79701; or Trinity School of Midland, Inc., 3500 West Wadley Avenue, Midland, TX 79707.

Arrangements were under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. To place online condolences please visit www.mem.com.