Obituary

Vernon Lewis Craddock
(April 28, 1932 - January 16, 2012)

Vernon Lewis Craddock, 78, of Barboursville, WV, passed away peacefully and comfortably on Monday, January 16, 2012, at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House following a brief illness. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 21, 2012, at Wallace Funeral Home and Chapel, Barboursville conducted by Minister George Erwin and Minister Doug Minton and eulogy by Pastor Larry Arbogast and Lay Speaker Denver Stevens. Entombment will be at Forest Memorial Park, Milton, WV. He is survived by his loving wife of seventeen years, Jane (Stowers) Craddock; step-son, Christopher Lane and Jessica and loving grandson Elijah, Huntington, WV; one sister Claudia Craddock Lawrence of Dayton, OH; niece, Mary Ann (Jack) Baylor of Nashville, TN; nephew Joe Vernon (Deanne) Lawrence of Cincinnati, OH. He was born April 28, 1933, a son of the late Claude and Leona Christian Craddock of Huntington, WV. Vernon was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving during the Korean Conflict and was active member of the 320th Squadron and 90th SRW attending yearly Air Force reunions. He was also member of the Main Street Church of Christ, Hurricane, WV. During his lifetime he was entrepreneur of multiple businesses, including but not limited to, Craddock Department Store and shoe stores, and V&S Distributing wholesale jewelry business. In the 60's he served as meat manager traveling the tri-state area for Evans Supermarkets. In addition, he was owner, developer and builder of Linmont properties, homes, townhouses, and apartments. Vernon served several years as Board Member to the Tri-State Homebuilder's Association. His pride and joy was the building and construction of the Linmont Bridge crossing Mud River from Route 60 into Linmont Estates in the early '70s along with his good friend, David Allen Edmunds. Vernon was an avid NASCAR fan of many years attending races and events across and the country with his special cousin and loving friend, Jim Craddock. Jim and his family have always "been there" for Vernon in time of need. He leaves behind a very close and personal "Rusty Wallace" fan, Pam Cremeans with whom he visited daily and a very, very special friend and helper, David Andrew Edmunds and his family. Vernon enjoyed feeding the deer and birds in his back yard and walking and driving his good buddy/dog, Lucky. He loved traveling to Wizard of Oz events throughout the country and became personal friends with several of the original Munchkins in the 1939 movie. Vernon was very active and every morning met and had coffee with his good friends and buddies at Hardee's while they discussed and resolved the world's and community issues and problems. Vernon was loved and honored by many people of many occupations and nationalities including Dr. Meheiar El-Hamdani and wife Dr. Nesreen Benhammed referring to them as his step-son and daughter, along with their four children.  Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. Friday, January 20, at the Wallace Funeral Home, Barboursville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, 3100 Staunton Street, Huntington, WV 25702 or to Little Victories Animal Shelter, PO Box 247, Barboursville, WV 25504.