William "Bill" L. Craft, 86 years old, graduated to heaven on Saturday, January 9, 2010. Bill was born Nov. 9, 1923, on a farm outside of Kinsley, Kansas, and grew up on the Craft family farm south of Kinsley. He attended a rural one-room grade school and graduated from Kinsley High School.

During World War II from 1943 to 1946, he served in the Navy on the battleship U.S.S. Alabama BB-60 as an electrician and remained a life-time member of the Alabama Crewmen's Association, Disabled American Veterans and American Legion Post 68. He was also a member of the Hutchinson Horseless Carriage Club and the Buhler Ramblers Club.

He married Merle Thennes on June 6, 1946, and spent their early-married years living in Kinsley, Copeland and Ellsworth prior to moving to Hutchinson in 1957, where they have continued to reside. Bill was baptized at and joined the Kinsley United Methodist Church and had been a member of First United Methodist Church, Hutchinson, for the past 53 years.

He enjoyed family activities with his children and grandchildren, square dancing, camping, skiing, fishing, and the United Methodist Men. He kept the 1928 engine from the car he and Merle dated in and later put the engine in a 1931 Ford that he restored.

He is survived by: his wife, Merle Craft; son, Richard (Connie) Craft; daughter, Linda (Richard) Stewart; grandchildren, Chad (Chris) Dyson, Eric (Melinda) Craft, Delena (Kelly) Reed, Ange (Cory) Blair, Richelle (David) Bloom; 11 great-grandchildren, brothers Neil (Loretta) Craft, Leonard Craft; and sisters, Ila (Wayne) Rose, Wilma (Don) Liggett and Connie Burkart. He was preceded in death by parents Clarence and Ethel Craft, twin brother and sister Bernard Craft and Bernice Hawkins.

Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church, Hutchinson, Kansas, with burial in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday with family to receive friends on Monday, January 11, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church or Hospice House of Reno County, both in care of the mortuary. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a personal message for the family.