US Navy Chief Petty Officer (Retired) Larry William Craig, 82, went home to be with the Lord after an ongoing courageous battle with cancer early in the morning on Friday, August 30, 2024 in Bridgeport, West Virginia.

 

Larry was born on September 29,1941 to Irvin Sheridan Craig and Marjorie Idell Taylor in Chadron, Nebraska. After graduating from Alliance High School in 1959, he immediately enlisted in the United States Navy and trained as a master diesel mechanic (enginemen) and served 20 valiant years including 5 tours during the Vietnam War. CPO Craig received the following honors during his service, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (5x), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (3x), and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (2x).

 

He met his loving wife, Lauana Marie Dominguez while he was stationed in San Diego, California and they married after a very short courtship on June 26, 1965. His first daughter, Loralei (Lori) was born in Riverside, CA in December of 1966. In between tours in Vietnam, he was stationed in San Diego, California, where his second daughter Michelle was born in September of 1969. After serving in his last tour in Vietnam he was transferred to Pittsburgh, PA, where his third daughter Monti was born in September of 1971. Larry finished his military career with 2 years in Allentown, PA, 4 years out of Norfolk, VA including ship to shore duty before retiring at his final duty station, Dubuque, IA in May 1979. He attained the rank of US Navy Chief Petty Officer. After retiring from the US Navy, he joined his wife Lauana in full-time ministry with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) where he served from 1982-1986 as the local director in Dubuque, IA. In 1986, he was appointed the State Director of West Virginia and served in that role for 17 years from 1986 to 2003. After retiring from CEF in 2003, he and Lauana started Mission Kids, a non-profit through their local church (Bible Baptist Temple) where they taught local church workers how to be better and more effective teachers in children’s ministries and have served their church faithfully for over 38 years. He is affectionately known as “Mr. C” by those young and old whose lives he’s touched through his decades of ministry for Christ. He has served on the camp director board for Camp Faith for the last 13 years. He has a reputation for knowing how to fix anything and his daughters have nicknamed him MacGyver because anything can be fixed with JB Weld and duct tape.

 

Larry received his BA and MA in Biblical Education from Mountaineer Baptist College in May 2001 and received his certificate of ordination through his church in March 2004. Larry loved his family, loved serving his country and loved reaching children for Christ through his ministry with his wife Lauana.

 

Larry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lauana (Dominguez) Craig. Daughers: Loralei (Robert) Pleiness of Fairfax, IA; Michelle (Larry) Davies of Alburtis, PA; Monti Moyer of Kettering, OH. Grandchildren: Alex Pleiness (31), Catherine Pleiness (28), Morgan (Collin) Gregory (27), Nicholas Davies (24), Kyle (Amy) Moyer (23), Keira Davies (18), and his beloved schnauzer, Onyx. Larry is also survived by his brothers Loyd Andrews, Darrel Craig, Loren Craig, sister Ardith (Craig) Robison, and many nieces and nephews.

 

Larry was preceded in death by his parents Irvin Sheridan Craig and Marjorie Idell (Taylor) Craig; brothers Gary Craig, Robert Craig, Lyle Craig and sisters Mary (Craig) Martin and Carol (Craig) Cisneros.

 

Family and friends may call at the Amos Carvelli Funeral Home, 201 Edison St, Nutter Fort, WV 26301 on Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Larry will lie in state from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at Bible Baptist Temple, 9436 Cost Ave, Stonewood, WV 26301 where funeral services will be held on Friday, September 6 at 11:00 am with Pastor Charles Madaus officiating.

 

Interment will follow in the West Virginia National Cemetery, 42 Veterans Memorial Lane, Pruntytown, WV 26354, where full military honors will be accorded.

 

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Larry and the Craig Family! In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Camp Faith, 321 Sugar Camp Rd., Shinnston, WV 26431 to support its mission, which held a special place in CPO Craig’s heart. https://campfaithinwv.com/wpregistration/?page_id=54

 

Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.amoscarvelli.com. A service of Amos Carvelli Funeral Home.