~ IN MEMORY ~
WWII veteran, C&S/DL Capt. William S. Craddock
October 24, 1918 - February 27, 2013
Notification of the passing of decorated WWII veteran and
C&S/DL pilot Captain William Sherman Craddock, age 94. Captain Craddock
hired on with Chicago & Southern 09-05-1945. He was preceded in death in 1985 by his wife of 51
years, Jeanne Walker. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Friday,
March 1 in the Salmon Room at Second Presbyterian Church. After a private burial
at Memorial Park Cemetery a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday,
March 2 at Second Presbyterian Church Chapel, 4055 Poplar Ave.,
Memphis TN.
Perhaps the best contact for the family would be
c/o son
William S. Craddock Jr.,
1749 Harbert Ave., Memphis, TN 38104-5113 ..... (901) 276-0639
Obituary for William Sherman Craddock
William Sherman Craddock, 94 passed away February 27, 2013. He was born
October 24, 1918 in Savannah Georgia to Margaret Sherman and William S.
Craddock. After moving to Memphis when he was 5, he attended Madison Heights
Grammar School, Bellevue Jr. High and Central High. Upon graduation from
Central, he was in the 1940 class at Southwestern, now known as Rhodes
College.
He was fascinated with flying and took lessons while still in high school.
This led him to join the Air Force in the early years of WWII. He had an
outstanding career as a flight leader, squadron and group leader and flew 50
plus missions in B26 fighter bomber aircraft. He served in Europe, N. Africa,
and Italy flying Sea Sweep missions, and bombing strategic targets including the
1,000 plane first raid on Rome, then Naples Harbor, Submarine pens at Toulon,
France in support of ground troops. He was decorated with the Distinguished
Flying Cross, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters and the Presidential Unit
Citation. After returning to the States, he flew Combat Readiness tests on U.S.
Air Force aircraft that were being developed. He held the rank of Lt. Colonel
and commanded the 516th TC Gp and trained the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions
for the Inchon Drop in Korea.
He was preceded in death in 1985 by his wife of 51 years, Jeanne Walker. He
leaves two children, Linda Craddock Work and William S. Craddock, Jr. (Margaret)
and five grandchildren, Taylor Work (Shannon), Lawrence Work (Sarah), Maysey
Craddock, Margaret McLean (Alec), Louisa Atman (Joe) and 12 great grandchildren,
Emily, Natalie, Danielle, Landon, Callie, Duncan, Meriwether, Virginia,
Campbell, Jane, Camille, and William. His is survived by his wife of 16 years,
Pat Hoelscher Holliday and step children, Craig Holliday (Lisa), Lee Holliday
(Alyssa), Tom Holliday (Julie), Julie Holliday Meeks (Gregg), Dr. Paul Holliday
(Leesa) and 13 step grandchildren. He also leaves his sister Ladye Margaret
Arnold and several nieces and nephews.
He was a man of strong character, morals, integrity, honesty, leadership,
vision and faith. All of these attributes served him and this city well. He was
a networker and raised support for many institutions such as YMCA, UT Medical
Research, Second Presbyterian Church, Christian Psychological Center and others.
He served as Chairman of the Air Service Commission, City of Memphis; President
of Future Memphis; President of Rotary Club; President of Metro Board, YMCA;
Director of Insurers of Memphis; Director of United Way, Chamber of Commerce;
Chairman of Board of Trustees, Presbyterian Day School; Chairman Board of
Trustees, Christian Psychological Center; Chairman Chancellor’s Round Table,
University of Tennessee; and a Member of Board of Trustees and the Red and Black
Society, Rhodes College. He was active in Second Presbyterian Church, serving as
an Elder and former President of the Church Corporation. He was recipient of
Business, Community Service Award, 1988 (Rotary) and runner up Senior Citizen of
the year, Memphis, 1990. He was Chairman of the Board, The Craddock Companies
and former Captain for Delta Airlines.
He was a member of The Memphis Country Club and a former member of the
University Club. Always an athlete and aficionado of exercise he was a former
City Handball Champion, enjoyed gold, tennis, hunting, fishing, swimming and the
beach.
The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday, March 1 in
the Salmon Room at Second Presbyterian Church. After a private burial at
Memorial Park Cemetery a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday,
March 2 at Second Presbyterian Church Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The
William S. Craddock Foundation UT Health Science Center, Second Presbyterian
Church, or the charity of your choice.
Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN
38119, "Behind the Stone Wall".
