Donald Raymond Craig

Donald Raymond Craig, 92, of Midland, was called home by the Lord on December 18, 2022.  He was born in Galveston, Texas and was predeceased by his beloved wife Patricia, parents Raymond and Essie Craig, brother John, and sister Dorothy.  Donald and Patricia met and married while they were both serving on Navy active duty at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas and were married for 58 years.  Even prior to meeting they had dedicated their lives to loving and helping people and this became their joint mission throughout their lives.  Don remained on active duty in the Navy Medical Department until 1983, retiring after thirty-three years of service.

Don graduated from Milby High School in Houston, and the Universities of Houston and San Diego and many military training programs.  He also attended Lee College, Roosevelt University, and the University of Hawaii.

He began his U.S. Navy career as a Hospital Corpsman in patient care and administration at a Naval Hospital and served on Naval ships in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean.  He graduated from Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a Medical Service Corps Officer, Education Specialist.  His duty assignments were with land, sea, air and under-sea stations at Naval Hospitals, Medical Research, Medical Schools and Headquarters.

He deployed to Da Nang, Vietnam during that war, serving with U.S. Marine Corps Aviation.  He managed Naval Hospital Corpsmen who provided medical care during the helicopter evacuation of injured Marines.  For that service, he was awarded the Bronze Star with combat “V”, and the Vietnam Service Medal with Marine Corps Emblem and two Campaign Bronze Stars.  He also provided humanitarian medical care to the civilian population in their villages and was awarded the Civil Action Medal.

Don was respected by patients, subordinates and his superiors.  He loved the Lord and prayed daily for staff and patients.  Both he and Patricia were Sunday School teachers at Naval Chapels, and Don sang in church choirs everywhere he lived.

Don was a senior Captain when he retired in Portsmouth, Virginia, as the Officer-in-Charge of the Naval School of Health Sciences.  There, he directed the School for Physicians Assistants, providing advanced training of Hospital Corpsmen, some of who would serve with Navy Seal Teams.  In 1983, after 33 years of Navy service, he made his twentieth and final Navy move with his wife and daughter to Midland, Texas.

In Midland, he served as Director of the Housing Authority, City of Midland and, later, a patient counselor with a home health agency.  But he felt he had his greatest impact as a volunteer.  Don and Patricia had a life-long interest in volunteer service and had been foster parents for six children.  In Midland, he was a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children for seven years, a volunteer for the Food Bank and Meals on Wheels, and board member of two non-profit organizations.  Don was a member of Christ Church Anglican where he sang in the choir and had served as both Junior and Senior Warden and member of the Vestry.  He was awarded the 2015 Golden Deeds Award by the Midland Exchange Club.  He was thankful that his medical service had provided him with part of the skill required to care for his wife Patricia, whom he deeply loved, during her long-term illness.

Survivors include son Michael (Nancy) Craig of North Carolina, daughter Margaret (Randy) Krotowski of Massachusetts, daughter Michelle Booth of Maine, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A Celebration of His Life will be held 11:00am, March 25, 2022 at Christ Church Anglican, 5501 N. Midkiff.  He will be laid to rest with his wife Patricia, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the non-profit, Manor Park, Inc., 2208 North Loop 250 West, Midland, Texas 79707, or Christ Church Anglican, 5501 N. Midkiff Rd., Midland, Texas 79705.

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