William Rosser Crafton, Jr

William Rosser Crafton, Jr. (Willy), 97, of the Hickory Hill Retirement Community of Burkeville, VA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Willy was born on September 8, 1926, in Vinton, Virginia, an eastern county of Roanoke, and grew up during the depression with his two sisters, where he enjoyed working in his family's vegetable garden, playing basketball, golfing, fishing, and singing in the choir at the Methodist church in Vinton.
Willy was a graduate of William Byrd High School and was drafted in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he served in the army of occupation in Okinawa Japan as an Infantryman, Military Policeman, and as an operator in the Signal Corps during the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific Theater and after the Japanese surrendered to the allied troops.
After the war, Willy returned to the Blue Ridge Mountains he called home to start his nearly 42-year career at C&P Telephone Co. and Bell Atlantic, where he held many positions as a telephone lineman, central office technician, and Bell building Engineer. During his career, Willy would relocate his family to Richmond, VA., Chester, VA, and Enon, VA, until his retirement to Tinsley Charter in Prince, GA with his loving wife, Jacquelyn Glass Crafton.
Willy was a devout Christian and was a devoted member of the 1st United Methodist Church of Hopewell, where he sang in the choir, volunteered and served the church managing the building and grounds maintenance, as well as other needed positions. He was considered by many as a master gardener and green thumb and had a passion for growing trees, plants and vegetables. He was an avid accomplished golfer, as well, and was honored with lifetime achievements of 2 hole-in-ones, an eagle, and many other well-played games. His biggest love of the game was the fellowship and friendships he developed on the fairways and greens.
Predeceased by his parents, William and Allie Crafton; his second wife, Jacquelyn Glass Crafton; sister, Francis Genevieve Gregory; son, David Thorton Crafton; grandson, Douglas Michael Crafton, Jr.; and great-great-grandson, Rafael Williams Fulcher. He is survived by his sister, Shirley Florence Scott; 6 children, Douglas Michael Crafton (Sherry Lynn Crafton), Becky Crafton Young (Ronald Reid Young - deceased), William Lewis Crafton, Charles DeHart Crafton (Allison Bree Crafton), Karen Mann Sheffield (Scott Sheffield - deceased), Bruce S. Mann (Wanda Mann); 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 2:00pm until 3:00pm at the Chester Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home, 3050 W Hundred Rd. Chester, VA 23831. A funeral service will be held at the same location directly following the visitation, starting at 3:00pm. Interment will be private at Bermuda Memorial Park, 1901 Bermuda Hundred Rd. Chester, VA 23836.
The family would like to extend their deepest thanks and gratitude to Willy's special friend, Connie Gorman, and all the friends and neighbors he grew to love over the many years at Tinsley Charter, as well as his beloved church family at 1st United Methodist Church in Hopewell. In lieu of flowers, the family request that any donations be made to the 1st United Methodist Church of Hopewell in Willy's name at P.O. Box 636, Hopewell, VA 23860.