Claude Neil Craven, 82, of Big Spring, died at 9:10 PM on Saturday, April 30, 2005, at his home, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at the Trinity Baptist Church with Pastor Randy Cotton, officiating, assisted by Rev. Neal Brillhart, of San Angelo and Richard D. Craven, son and pastor of New Testament Baptist Church in Lubbock. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.He was born March 7, 1923 in Caddo, Oklahoma, to L. C. and Mary S. Craven. He served in the United States Army during World War II from 1941 to 1947, in the South Pacific. He married Lillie Elizabeth Beck on August 4, 1945.Claude graduated from Bible Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth on May 29, 1952, and received a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Bible Baptist Seminary on May 13, 1971. He also received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Arlington Baptist College on May 17, 1979. He was pastor of four different churches during his lifetime. His first pastorate was in Roanoke, Texas during seminary. After graduation, he pastored in Childress, Texas. Eighteen months later, he became pastor of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle in Fort Scott, Kansas, where he spent 13 years. He moved to Big Spring and became pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church in August 1965 and retired from Trinity Baptist Church in January 1993, after 28 years as pastor. Claude served as camp director at Pot O'Gold Ranch in Comfort, Texas from 1966 to 1991. He has since served as an evangelist and has preached mission meetings and revival meetings in churches all across America. He was especially an advocate for "faith-promise" mission giving. He was President of the World Baptist Fellowship for two terms, and he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Bible Baptist Seminary/Arlington Baptist College for more than 20 years and he was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.He is survived by his loving wife, Beth, of almost 60 years of marriage; two sons, Dana Craven and wife, Marion, of Oxford, Alabama and Richard Craven and wife, Melanie, of Lubbock; three daughters, Jan Christopher and husband, Neil, of Lubbock, Carolyn Schalk and husband, Joe, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Patricia Hasting and husband, Rick, of Ardmore, Alabama; three sisters, Ann Horton, June Powell and Bessie Blades all of Amarillo; two brothers, L. C. Craven and Wayne Craven both of Amarillo; 17 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters. The family suggests memorials to: Trinity Baptist Church Mission Fund, P. O. Box 1448, Big Spring, Texas 79721-1448 or to Arlington Baptist College, 3001 W. Division, Arlington, Texas 76012.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
