WAYLAND: William H. “Bill” Craven, Jr. 83, died on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick following a brief illness.
He was born in Boston on January 4, 1927 the son of the late William H. Craven, Sr. and Dorothy L. (Williams) Craven.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Helen (McLaughlin) Craven of Wayland. Bill was the devoted father of Dr. Richard M. Craven and his wife Lynn of Paoli, PA; David P. Craven and his wife Betty of Culpeper, VA and Catherine A. Gallo and her husband David of Natick. He was the brother of Virginia C. MacDonald of Marietta, GA and the late Dorothy O’Rourke. He is also survived by 8 cherished grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Bill has been a resident of Wayland for the past 50 years and previously resided in Brighton and Brookline. He spent his formative years in Dorchester and was a graduate of Boston English High School and Lawrence Academy. He received his BA in Business Administration from Suffolk University in Boston. Bill had a long and distinguished career as a Commercial Engineer with the New England Telephone and Telegraph Co. of Boston and Framingham and retired in 1986. He served his country proudly as a Private First Class with the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of the Pioneer Club of N. E. Telephone and Telegraph and was an avid golfer. Bill was a longtime communicant of St. Zepherin Church and served as a lector, on the worship committee and the finance committee of the church for many years. He was also a member of the Holy Name Society of the church and on the St. Zepherin’s Mens Golf team. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Visitations will be held on Monday, January 25, 2010 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (OFF Route 30), Wayland.
Family and friends may gather at the funeral home on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 9:00 am followed by his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Zepherin Church, Route 27, Wayland.
Interment will follow in the Craven family lot in Lakeview Cemetery in Wayland.
In lieu of flowers his family suggests memorial gifts in his memory may be sent to the American Heart Assoc., 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472.
For online condolences and directions, please visit www.johncbryyantfuneralhome.com.