Wilbur Everitt Craven, age 90, of Harbor Beach passed away peacefully on September 6, 2021 under the care of Campassus Hospice and his wife. Bill was born in Columbia, KY on February 24 , 1931, to the late (Olive) Thelma and Buell Craven. Bill spent much of his childhood on the west side of Detroit where he was in and out of trouble. He was not a fan of school and instead preferred to 'run the streets' and play at the railway yards jumping trains. At age 16, Bill's father strongly insisted he enlists in the military to keep him out of any serious trouble locally. So, in 1947 young Bill found himself struggling to fit in as a Private stationed in Puerto Rico.  If not for the patience and compassion of a commanding officer, he would not have survived the first year of his 11-year military career. By keeping Bill busy with training and teaching him important life skills, the officer kept Bill out of trouble and helped him to advance. Bill went on to become a Sergeant and served in the Korean War as a Combat Medic where he earned several medals and citations.

While on a leave from the Army, Bill met and married his first wife, Violet Brousseau (Cedar Lake, MI) after only knowing her for two weeks. She would lead him to Christ and into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They went on to be married 32 years and together helped raise several foster children as well as to have five children of their own. They later divorced but remained close.

During the war Bill had been advised to use the GI Bill to further his education and although he had hated school as a child, he enrolled in Emmanuel Missionary College (Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI) in hopes of getting a degree in education. He was in his third year before the school realized he had not graduated from high school, so Bill took classes and got his high school diploma and then a year later he graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. He also had a passion for History and Writing. He went on to get his Master's in Special Education while living and teaching in California and took several classes toward a doctorate from Michigan State University. Bill taught a total of 35 years before retiring in 1994, 22 of those were at the Huron Intermediate School District where he taught as a Homebound teacher to students who could not attend regular school in person. During summer breaks from teaching Bill would work as a line cook on freighters sailing the Great Lakes.

Bill later entered into marriage with Pam Tenbusch and together they opened an Adult Foster Care home in Harbor Beach while raising their twin sons. Bill loved animals and was an avid bird watcher. He loved being out in nature fishing, hiking, gardening, or mowing his lawn. Bill loved teaching and had a good sense of humor which he often used to tell outlandish stories to his children and grandchildren who were the joy of his life. He made a point to remember and acknowledge each of his 7 children, 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren's birthdays up until his dementia worsened. He loved watching TV and movies especially westerns. Bill was a die-hard, loyal, Detroit Tigers and Lions fan with baseball being his favorite sport. Bill was a devoted man of God and a longtime member of the Bad Axe Seventh-day Adventist Church where he loved to share his faith through Bible Studies. Many people were led to God by Bill's testimony and his sharing of the Bible.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Pam of Harbor Beach and his children; Wilbur (Sue) Craven, Jr. of Florence Alabama, Starr (Mike) Donohue-Johnson of Ruth and Holly MI, Mark (Kim) Craven of Mendota Illinois, Holly (Mike) Craven-McCrory of Port Hope, Derrick Craven of Harbor Beach, and Jeremy Craven of Harbor Beach.

Bill is preceded in death by his sisters MaryAnn Pruitt and Gean Heymes as well as his parents, his beloved daughter Linda Rose and grandson Garry John Rose of Harbor Beach, and great granddaughter Violet Lynn Kagen.

Per his wishes, cremation arrangements were handled by MacAlpine Funeral Home. A sundown memorial service will be held on September 18 at 6:30 pm at the Bad Axe Seventh-day Adventist Church on Willis Street with Pastor Richard Bullock officiating. Family and friends can meet for fellowship at 5 pm.

Condolences can be shared at www.macalpinefuneralhome.com