Rev. George Washington "Bud" Craig III Obituary (1933 - 2021)

Rev. George Washington "Bud" Craig III, age 88, of Columbia, SC, formerly of Flanagan, IL and Dunkirk, NY, graduated to glory at 8:20 AM on Sunday, November 28, 2021, at the Agape Hospice Home in Columbia, SC, following a long journey with Alzheimer's Disease. His Memorial Service will be at First Baptist Church, 1306 Hampton St., Columbia on Friday, December 3 at 2 PM, with the Rev. Richard Humphries officiating. The family will receive visitors following the service at First Baptist. Bud will be buried following a graveside service at 11 AM, Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the Waldo Cemetery in Gridley, IL. His son, Rev. David Craig, will be officiating. There will not be a funeral procession; family and friends may meet at the cemetery. Rev. Craig was born February 10, 1933, in Red Bank, NJ, the son of George Washington Craig, II, and Doris Woodcock Craig. He married Darlene Mae "Dar" Kroohn on April 28, 1956, in Freedonia, NY. After a long marriage blessed by four children and shared ministry, Dar passed away on February 3, 2001. Bud later married Jeanne Jones Kennedy on March 23, 2002, at Salem Church, Gridley, IL. They served together in hospice and Stephen Ministry until her death on August 16, 2006. Bud continued his ministry in Illinois, while courting a longtime friend of the Craig family from his college days. On August 18, 2007, Bud married Roberta "Bobbie" Boone of Columbia, SC, joining the Craig and Boone families in love as well as in friendship. They were married for 14 years. Bud is survived by his wife, Bobbie Boone Craig. Also surviving are his three sons, Michael "Mick" (Kathy) Craig, Otsego, MN; David (Alice) Craig, Pekin, IL; Mark (Stephany) Craig, Trophy Club, TX; his daughter, Tanya Craig, East Peoria, IL; 14 Craig grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two sisters, Patricia DiPasquale and Nancy McLane, and his brother, John (Pam) Craig. Bud will also be deeply missed by his step-children, Christie (Matt) Engstrom, Gilbert, AZ; Michelle (Michael) Myer, Columbia, SC; Jimmy Boone, Irmo, SC; Cindi Federspiel, Columbia, SC; Paul (Jill) Boone, Bostic, NC; Mark Boone, Miami, FL; and Jennifer Livingston, North Myrtle Beach, SC; and 38 step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Rev. Craig was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather, Ray Weston, his wives Dar and Jeanne, a granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth Craig, stepson-in-law Eric Federspiel, and his sisters, Ardyth Craig and Joan Simmons. An ordained Baptist and Mennonite Pastor, "Pastor Bud" graduated from Columbia Bible College in Columbia, SC in June 1966. He received graduate training at Dr. Clyde Narramore's Graduate School of Christian Psychology in Rose Meade, CA, and also Clinical Pastoral Education Training at BroMenn Hospital in Bloomington. He served Bethel Baptist Church in Hayes Center, NE; the First Baptist Church of Dannebrog, NE; St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nysted, NE; Covenant Baptist Church in Marengo, IL; Faith Baptist Church in Decatur, IL; and Salem Evangelical Mennonite Church in rural Gridley, IL. In 1995, Pastor Bud retired from those 30 years of Pastoral ministry and served for seven years as OSF St. Joseph's Hospice Chaplain in Bloomington, IL until fully retiring in 2002. After relocating to Columbia, SC, Bud was ordained as a deacon by First Baptist Church, Columbia, SC, where he was a member for 14 years. Bud served his country for seven years as a member of the New York National Guard as a Company Clerk and then as a Tank Commander. Bud will be missed but always remembered as a husband, father, grandpa, great-grandfather, a caregiver, lover of people, friend to many, encourager, pastor-shepherd, teacher, servant, and grief counselor; but most of all, as a dedicated disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, his Savior and his Lord. The extended Craig family is grateful for the exceptional care provided to Bud by MSA Hospice and the Agape Hospice Home. During Bud's final illness, he greatly appreciated being able to participate in the corporate worship at First Baptist Church through their TV and online ministries. The family suggests memorials be made to the Media Ministry at First Baptist Church of Columbia, SC. Arrangements are being handled by Dunbar Funeral Home of Columbia, SC and Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL. Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com