CLAUDE MONROE CRAFT, 78, of Roanoke, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 16, 2000. He was born in New Castle on January 3, 1922. He was a
member of Ghent Grace Brethren Church since 1955. He was a well known businessman in the Roanoke Valley. He began his railroad career in 1942 as a fireman with the Virginian Railway Company and retired after 40 years as an engineer with N & W Railway Company in 1982. He began his real estate career in the Roanoke Valley with M. J. Lucas Realty Company in Downtown Roanoke in 1950. He was a retired realtor and was a member of the National Association of Realtors since 1950. He was a broker member of the National Motel Association of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

His survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Jane Louise Craft; two sons and a daughter-in-law, John Monroe Craft, Claude Eugene and Mary Jo Craft; daughter and son-in-law, Susanne Craft Gregory and Norman Cecil Gregory; grandchildren, Johnny Clinton Craft, David Monroe Craft, Regina Dianne Vaughan and Nola Jane Gregory; great-grandchildren, Joshua Clinton Craft, Benjamin William Craft and Mary Katherine Craft; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, May 18, 2000 at Oakey's North Chapel with Dr. Brent Sandy officiating. The interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Oakey's North Chapel.

The Roanoke Times
Wednesday, May 17, 2000