Obituary of Watson Craft

Watson Garret Craft died on July 5, 2014 at ninety years of age. The son of Pricey and Archealous Craft, he was born on a Revolutionary War land grant farm in Letcher County, Kentucky in1924. Watson was the youngest of seventeen children and grew up during the depression where he learned the value of hard work and the necessity of generosity. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he left high school and enlisted in the US Navy where he was selected for training as a submariner. He served with distinction, rising to the rank of Quartermaster 3rd Class SS on the USS Sandlance, attacking and counterattacking the Japanese on the Pacific front. Those intense days of mortal danger and close comradeship forged a bond with his shipmates that lasted a lifetime. He was proud of his service and honored to be recognized as one of the Greatest Generation. In 1945, on leave home to Kentucky he met and married Minerva Back, a union that lasted 68 years until her death on April 4, 2014. In 1946 they returned to Kentucky where he completed high school and both of them enrolled in Berea College to become life long educators and administrators in Boone County. Watson taught Vocational Agriculture for many years and finished his career as principal of Ockerman Elementary. He earned his Master's degree in Educational Administration at the University of Kentucky and was a life-long Wildcats fan. Watson's life took him from Millstone, Kentucky to the submarine base at Groton, Connecticut to Hawaii and the myriad Pacific islands and finally, back home to Kentucky where he lived out his days in well deserved peace surrounded by his loving wife, family and friends. Those who were honored to know him knew a man of great intellect, integrity, courage, determination and kindness. Those who were blessed to be a part of his family received gentle and persistent guidance toward the virtues he espoused. Watson is survived by his daughters; Linda Brown (Stewart) and Nancy Ryan (Russell); his beloved grandchildren; Schuyler Brown (Peter Novobaczky), Garret Brown (Tara), Casey Ryan (Erin), Caitlyn Sullivan (Jordan), and Cody Ryan (Aubrey) and his great-grandchildren; Bennett Brown, Josie Brown, Eleanor Novobaczky and Annabelle Sullivan. In addition to his family, Watson influenced generations of Boone County students and teachers, many of whom have maintained contact over the years. This gentle man became a touchstone to everyone who was blessed to come into his orbit and benefit from his wisdom. His influence will be unending. A visitation for Watson will be held Tuesday, July 8, 2014 from 10:30AM until 12:30PM at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home in Walton. The Funeral Service will begin at 12:30PM, also at the funeral home. Burial will be at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North in Williamstown. Memorial donations are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice, 1 Medical Village Dr. Suite 213, Edgewood, KY 41017.