Lawrence "Larry" William Craft

Lawrence “Larry” William Craft passed on September 24, 2018 at Carolyn’s House (Hospice of Central Pennsylvania) in Harrisburg. He was the son of the late Harold and Vera Carpenter Craft and widower of Joan Denny Craft who passed in 1984. He experienced a near fatal heart attack following her death, beginning years of cardiac issues that culminated with his death.

He was born April 25, 1940, in Kansas City, Missouri where he lived until after WWII. He was raised in small towns in Missouri and Kansas, and he worked his way through college, attending Kansas State University and Kansas State Teachers College, receiving a B.A. in 1964. He also took graduate legal and business courses at Washburn University School of Law, The University of Kansas, and is a 1982 graduate of the Penn State Executive Program.

Larry loved college athletics, especially Penn State and Penn State Football, at one point missing only two home games over a period of 23 years. He also enjoyed following Kansas State Jayhawk basketball with his brother. Most of all, however, “Pappy” adored spending time with his family and enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s various sporting events.

He was a Certified Quality Engineer, joining Carlisle Tire and Rubber in 1977 following eleven years of quality engineering and management positions with Goodyear Tire and Rubber. He then transferred to Carlisle SynTec Inc. as Quality Manager when the company was formed in 1982. He retired from Carlisle SynTec in December 2000 and later worked as Quality and Safety Manager for Base Operations Contractors at the U. S. Army War College in Carlisle from 2001 until July 2011.

Larry’s military service was with the Marine Corps. His professional and community leadership included serving as Board Member or Officer for The Pennsylvania Quality Leadership Board of Examiners, The American Society for Quality, Keystone Area Boy Scouts, Summer Program for Youth, and the Carlisle Penn State Boosters Club. Larry was an involved member of the Carlisle Rotary Club where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a long-time member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, serving terms as Vestry Member, Treasurer, and Usher Chairman. He was also a Mason, Scottish Rite, Shriner, Cubmaster, and Webelo’s Den Leader.

He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years Linda; three sons, Douglas of Pittsburgh, PA; Curtis of Honolulu, HI; Joel of Pittsburgh, PA; (step) daughter Lisa Orris and husband Jeff of Carlisle, PA; (step) son Scott Shepard and wife Heather of Carlisle, PA; grandchildren Benjamin, Zachary, and Jonathan Orris, Cassidy and William Shepard. He is also survived by his brother Kent and wife Marcia of Wichita, KS.

The Liturgy for the Burial of the Dead will be held Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1a North Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA with Rev. Melissa Wilcox and Chaplain Alan Echard officiating. There will be a visitation at the church one hour prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. John’s Episcopal Church, Carolyn’s House or Project Share or a charity of your choice.

To sign the guestbook, please visit www.HoffmanFH.com.