bobdaley Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Bob Craft flew west yesterday. He passed from cancer in Bradenton FL. Bob flew Herks at CCK from 66-69 and Langley 69-72. Then he flew for Delta retiring in 2003. We'll miss him. I'll post the details when I get them. Bob D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 hanks for puttin' this up, Bob. I was going to, but hoped you would, in order to add a few more details. The reunions won't be the same, that's for sure................... RIP, Bob Craft............. Giz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Makes me sad. Gone way to soon. Giz is right, the reunions will be a little less fun without Bob. When I talked to him he always made my day brighter. He was always good for a laugh. I'll bet he was a hoot to fly with. So long Bob, RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 While I didn't personally know Bob, we were at Langley at the same time. May have worked on his aircraft. RIP Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 While I didn't personally know Bob, we were at Langley at the same time. May have worked on his aircraft. RIP Bob. Sparks, I think Bob lived fairly close to where you are there in Florida...........he was a character, no doubt...... giz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 I had no idea. Guess I should get out of the house more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Oh stay there, Mt. Chief, Tinwhistle, and me are comin' to raid your fridge..........AND why don't you drift up to wright-pat in June for the 316th reunion????? I was pleased last year to see more maintanence guys show up. I thought that was great, cause without you guys, we would not have had any big toys to play with............. Giz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 Here is the URL for an Obit in the Longboat Key Newspaper. Bob http://www.lbknews.com/2013/04/12/longboater-robert-craft-takes-final-flight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 I got this from Alycia Bob D Sent: Fri, Apr 12, 2013 7:36 pm Subject: Fwd: Passing of DAL Capt. Robert D. Craft , age 70 Click on way below the Hyperlink HTTP://pcnflightwest & you'll see the Delta Air Lines website -----Original Message----- From: carol <[email protected]> To: craftb <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, Apr 12, 2013 7:02 pm Subject: Passing of DAL Capt. Robert D. Craft , age 70 ~ IN MEMORY ~ Vietnam war veteran, DL Capt. Robert ‘Bob’ D. Craft January 21, 1943 ~ April 10, 2013 Word has been received with the passing of decorated USAF Vietnam war veteran, retired DL pilot and Delta Golden Wings member Captain Robert Donald Craft, age 70. Captain Craft hired on with Delta 02-26-1973 and retired at the mandatory age 60 in 2003. He was based MIA/ATL/PDX and flew international routes for much of his commercial airline career. To view/sign the online guestbook and to read the complete obituary, please visit the funeral home website at http://www.brownandsonsfuneral.com/ Survived by his wife, PAA/DL retired F/A Alycia Araneo Craft, personal condolences may be sent to the Craft’s residence at 701 Binnacle Point Drive , Longboat Key FL 34228-1603 .... (941) 387-7017 Captain Craft’s complete obituary is also available on our blogspot at http://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/ A memorial service will be held at a later date. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory of Bradenton, FL have been entrusted with arrangements. Thank you, ~ Carol Faulkner, PCN death notice communicator [email protected] http://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------------------- Craft, Capt. Robert •Name: Craft, Capt. Robert •Died: 4/10/13 Capt. Robert Craft of Longboat Key, FL passed away on April 10, 2013, at the age of 70. Bob was born in Louisville, KY on January 21, 1943. He was the son of Robert & Elma Craft of KY. He is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Alycia Araneo Craft formerly of Charleston, S.C. His sister, Barbara Jarvis & husband, Dennis Jarvis; brother, John Craft & his wife, Linda Craft; nieces, Angela Bowman & Vallerie Becker; nephews, Matthew & Michael Craft. Bob attended Winter Park High School in Winter Park Florida, & after moving to Okinawa he graduated from Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, Japan in 1961. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1965. He was active in the ROTC program and created The Capt. Bob Craft Scholarship Fund. Bob was a member of the (Pike)Pi kappa Alpha Fraternity .Among his many achievements, Bob entered the USAF and served two tours as a C-130 Pilot in Vietnam, from 1967 -1969, where he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry and airmanship. He returned to Langley AFB and served as an Instructor Pilot until 1973, when he began his career with Delta Air Lines. Throughout his life he stayed very active in many patriotic veteran associations. This news has been received with the passing of Delta Airlines Pilot, Captain Robert Donald Craft. Captain Craft had a 30 year career with Delta Air Lines, hired February 26, 1973 and retired at mandatory age of 60 in 2003. Captain Craft was based in Miami. Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, and Portland, Oregon. Captain Craft flew International the majority of his 30 year career crossing the Atlantic to Europe, the Pacific to Asia and many Delta routes to South America. One of his most memorable days in Commercial Flying was on September 11, 2001. He was the Captain of Delta Flight 109, originating in Madrid, Spain bound for Atlanta, Georgia. He & his fellow Pilots together made the decision to make the difficult landing of their B-767ER in the Azores at Santa Maria Island on a WWII Runway to ensure the safety of their passengers and crew. He met Alycia, the love of his life, and married in August 1977 at the Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West Florida. Alycia who flew with Pan American World Airways as a Flight Attendant & Purser from 1965 until 1991. After Pan American went into bankruptcy, Alycia was hired by Delta Air Lines & together Alycia & Bob flew many overseas trips together until 2002 when Alycia retired. Bob's Retirement trip was Delta Flight from Milan, Italy to Atlanta in Jan. 2003 In 1979 Bob & Alycia purchased 150 Acres, with creeks and a 14 Acres Lake, in Fayetteville, Georgia. During the 34 years they built a large barn, fenced all the land, then purchased Beef cattle. Built 4 more Ponds, stocked them & one pond was with a variety of Koi. In 1987, The Craft's built their Dream Home, never to leave. Approaching Retirement age, The Craft's purchased a 2nd home on Longboat Key, FL. on the Sarasota Bay & The Inter Coastal Waterway. After Retirement, their decision was to move full time to Florida and have the best of both worlds, The Gulf of Mexico and the serenity of their beautiful farm......Environ. Memorial Service will be at a later date.. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel in charge. In lieu of flowers Please send donations to The Wounded Warrior Project in Jacksonville, Florida, website: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Condolences www.brownandsonsfuneral.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 Giz and Jerry,.......Check is in the mail. See you at W-P. Again, condolences to Capt Craft and family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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