WOOSTER – Charles (Chuck) Perry Craig was born 27 May 1932 in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He was the elder son of Perry and Luella (nee Fogle) Craig of St. Marys, West Virginia.
He graduated from Wooster High School in 1950 and served in the United States Army from 1952-1954. There followed many years as a radio broadcaster with WWST Wooster, WHBC Canton, WJWCleveland, WCKY Cincinnati, WNCO Ashland, and WTAE Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With the Radio Production Company of Hardman and Associates in Pittsburgh, Chuck became one of the featured actors in the horror film classic Night of the Living Dead.
While in radio, Chuck wrote and recorded a series of programs entitled The Sands of Time highlighting notable people and events in history. This effort received recognition from Freedom’s Foundation at Valley Forge, PA. Another of his broadcast authorships was produced under the title of Christmas Facts and Fables.
In 1984 he began employment in Wooster as a veterans’ service officer and continued as President of the Wayne County Veterans Service Commission. His service to local veterans and their families spanned 34 years. He was named Wayne County Veteran of the Year in 2003 and was inducted into the Ohio Veterans’ Hall of Fame in 2007, an annual ceremony in Columbus, where Chuck frequently served as master-of-ceremonies.
Chuck was a volunteer leader with Killbuck District Buckeye Council of Boy Scouts of America. He was recognized as Scouter of the Year for Killbuck District in 1987. He holds the Fifth Year Pipestone.
He served with the Salvation Army Wooster Corps, Kiwanis Club, Wayne County Emergency Management Agency, Wooster Cemetery Board, and was President of Pee Wee Hollow Scout Camp.
He and his wife Judithe performed for many years together as a musical duet under the name Valley Voices. They were featured performers aboard the Valley Gem Sternwheeler tourist boat on the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers.
Chuck is survived by his wife Judithe (nee Jacob) and a sister-in-law Karen Craig of Roswell, Georgia. Also surviving are his nephew Christopher Craig (Amanda) and their sons Andrew, Peter, and Joshua of Marietta, Georgia, and his niece Catherine (Jim) Takeuchi and their children Evelyn and Stephen of Woodstock, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary (Vance) in 2000 and by his brother Neil in 2008.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 1, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the West Hill Baptist Church, 2241 Mechanicsburg Rd., Wooster with Pastor Eric Fairhurst officiating. Military burial honors will be observed with the rifle salute and the sounding of Taps following the service at Wooster Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ohio s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.
Memorial Contributions
In lieu of flowers to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691
Service
Friday, March 1, 2019 at West Hill Baptist Church, 2241 Mechanicsburg Rd., Wooster
Visitation
No calling hours
Thank you for playing an unsung yet critical role in NotLD, Mr. Craig. You surely will not be forgotten.
My dear Judith,I am so sorry for your loss of our dear Chuck. He was an amazing person and had a wonderfully full life.
May God comfort you now and always. Take care. Namaste.
Dear Judithe, Our hearts and thoughts are with you. We know you will have many reasons to smile when Family and friends gather to reminisce and celebrate Chuck. He will be greatly missed and we are richer for having known him. Take good care!
Chuck Craig, you will be missed by a community that you served humbly! Our hearts are sadden with the new of you passing but rejoice in the thoughts of you being with our Lord and Savior! Thanks for all that you are!
Judith, so sad for your loss. He truly was your best friend and adored you! I hope God gives you peace in this hard time!
God Bless Chuck. Rest easy
Oh, Judithe, my heart hurts for you with this sad news. Chuck’s life embodied the essence of service, with a deep sense of joy in helping so many others. He will be sorely missed. I pray you feel held in the hollow of God’s hand as you find your way to a new normal. Know that we grieve with you, not as one without hope.
Our thoughts an prayers are with his family an friends. From a fellow actor from the movie night of the living dead
My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Charles(Chuck) Craig. A true gentleman.
To Judithe he was the perfect half of a great team, to veterans, he was selfless. To me, he was a mentor, an inspiration, an encourager and something to shoot for in life. God wrote an awesome story here, a story so good that even Chuck Craig couldn’t have written. I’ll never forget, sitting at the Skyline Drive-In watching “Night Of The Living Dead” and we yelled out, “Hey! That’s Chuck!” Of course, he had never mentioned it to any of us. A humble man of service always.
Chuck was a answer to prayers for our family in the 1990’s when he work with Wayne County Veterans Services. We are so thankful for his service.
Dear Judithe: Heartfelt sympathy on the loss of a fine man. I will always treasure my 45 years of friendship with Chuck. We did a radio program together spanning 25 years. What a pro he was! His work on behalf of veterans was astounding. Nobody could ever produce a Memorial Day speech any better than Chuck. When we last spoke in December I told him these things. Rest in peace, Chuck.
I had the pleasure of meeting Chuck a few years ago. Each time I would see him, he’d put his hand out to me, shake my hand with confidence and warmth. In less than optimal situations he remained gracious and thankful. Chuck had a steady stream of visitors, none more faithful than Judithe. He adored her and she him.
I can not speak to his past, only the short time I knew him, I feel fortunate to have crossed his path seeing a positive and uplifting spirit. Clearly, he was respected and loved by those who knew him. I sincerely hope Judithe finds comfort in knowing he was a great man, a gentle man, and a gentleman. Rest in peace Mr. Craig.
Chuck will be remembered in our minds for his positive attitude towards life and for the special interest in our son Logan’s musical talent. What an encouraging man. He had a heart to serve wherever God placed him. He will be missed.
What an amazing man and what an tremendous friend. When I first worked with Chuck and Judith I had no idea who he was until years later, I liked him immeadiatly and was so fascinated by his radio stories since we shared that love. Judith and Chuck welcomed me into their home and were so gracious and kind and I will never forget that. I wish he had even more years here on this earth because people loved him so. I have met a great number of people in my life and I can truly say I had the greatest respect and admiration for Chuck. I am so thankful and glad our paths crossed. This life is way to short and goes so fast. We didn’t lose Chuck he just moved onto a better place until we arrive there. I do miss him and always enjoyed hearing his voice and his great sense of humor. The amazing describes him truly.. Rest in peace and open the gates of Heaven for us all Chuck. Roger Hoover
It was a privilege to know Chuck and we will always remember his warmth, his generosity, his kindness, his geniality, his smile, and that playful twinkle in his eye.
To Judithe: I pray that you will find comfort in the company of family and friends at this sad, sad, time. I will never forget all the family reunions we had growing up and throwing crab apples on the Craig farm and “playing” radio at Chuck’s desk. He had the neatest desk lamp that we turned sideways and used as a big radio microphone. This came about after he took the whole family on a tour of the radio station. He was the most gracious host even when his youngest of cousins trapsed around everywhere and constantly asked, “what’s this? what’s that?” When I lived for two years in Cleveland, I would often drive down and spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon just visiting. He had such good stories and told them so well. May the good Lord put His loving arms around you and hold you tight. Much love and prayers to you, Martha
Judith and family, we are at a loss, saying prayers for you and Chuck in his time of passing. He was such a kindhearted, lively soul, full of joy and compassion in his conversations! Time spent with the both of you was always pleasant. You two were–and are–quite a match! May God bless you in this hard time. We are with you. – Katie and Marie.
My heartfelt condolences to the entire Craig family. I had the honor of meeting Charles on a couple of occasions. He was so pleasant to talk to. I have nothing but fond memories of him. Rest in peace Charles. You are sorely missed.
Chuck, I was privileged and blessed to have met you. Judith and family you are in my thoughts and prayers.
I knew chuck through the v.a. office in Wooster and other places he will be missed by lots of veterans like me. May he rest piece. Thoughts and prayers for all of the family.
I’m very grateful to have met you (twice); and will never forget, for someone who played a serious role, you had me laughing the whole time at that one convention with your sense of humor. My condolences to Mrs. Craig and the Craig family. Rest in peace and God bless you, Charles.
To the Family of Chuck,
I am very sorry for you loss. I worked with Chuck as his contact at Wooster High School for the yearly Legion Boys State Program. Chuck helped identify and support a new generation of leaders in the state of Ohio every year through his stewardship of the program. I appreciated his humor and commitment to raising civic engagement in students. He was a pleasure to know and you have my sincere condolences.
Judithe – you have my deepest sympathy. Chuck was one of a kind in the best way. What a privilege to know him. Although he will be so missed by so many, Heaven has become a little bit better. He is surely a big hit.
So very sorry for your loss, Judithe. May the Lord’s presence be with you in the days ahead.