DUDLEY - John Elliott Craver, 85, of Dudley, died Wednesday, March 17, in Overlook Masonic Health Center, Charlton, after an illness.
He leaves his wife of 62 years, Eleanor (Trull) Craver; 4 sons, E. Bates Craver and his wife Cheryl of Thompson, CT, Robert T. Craver and his wife Robin of Webster, John N. Craver and his partner Jerry of Seattle, WA, and Benjamin A. Craver and his wife Elizabeth of Dudley; 11 grandchildren, Shawn P. Craver and his wife Sherri, Nancy Harnois and her husband Mederic, Laura B. Craver and her fiancé Kevin Rogers, Michael Leal, Jamie Leal, Odessa DeGrieck, Andrew Finch-Craver, Josiah P. Craver, Sarah B. Marchand and her husband Todd, Leland C. Craver and his fiancee Sarah Joyce, and Marjory P. Craver; 2 great grandsons, Logan and Mederic; 3 brothers, Perry P. Craver and his wife Betty of Maine, Nelson B. Craver and his wife Dorothy of Cape Cod, and Edgar G. Craver and his wife Audrey of Florida; many nephews and nieces.
He was born in Worcester, the son of Edgar A. and Marjory E. (Parsons) Craver, and lived in Webster and Dudley all his life. He attended Bartlett High School and graduated from Vermont Academy. He attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
Mr. Craver was a leather buyer for Bates Shoe Company and was the owner of Campbell Shoe Store in Portsmouth, N.H. He then was president of Perryville Realty and Westview Estates, Inc., before retiring.
John was active in his church and community. He was a member of the Church of the Reconciliation in Webster, where he served as a member of the vestry and as senior warden. In his younger years, he coached little league baseball and was active with the Boy Scouts of America. He was a former selectman in Dudley. He was a board member of United Way, Inc., a corporator of the Webster Five Cents Savings Bank, a trustee of Nichols Academy, and a long-time member of the Webster-Dudley Rotary Club. He was a charter member of the Black Tavern Historical Society. He was once a member of the Webster Sailing Association.
He enjoyed outdoor activities including tennis, skiing, and scouting. He loved sailing and teaching children how to sail.
Mr. Craver’s family would like to thank the care givers and staff at the VNA Care Network and at UMass Medical Center in Worcester and at Overlook Masonic Health Care in Charlton for their outstanding kindness and compassion to John and to them.
A funeral service will be held at noon on Saturday, March 20, at the home of Ben and Liz Craver. Burial will follow in Perryville Cemetery. There are no calling hours. The family suggests donations in his name be made to either the Black Tavern Historical Society, PO Box 1804, Dudley, MA 01571 or to the Jessie Hay Memorial Association (used for Boy Scout of America activities), PO Box 467, North Grosvenordale, CT 06255. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School St., Webster.