Albert Otto Krafft

(Age 96)

Born January 18, 1920 in Bexar County, Texas, the second child of Albert Hermann Krafft and Edna Theresa (Ackermann) Krafft. Albert died May 27, 2016 in Spokane, WA. He graduated from San Antonio Vocational and Technical School in 1938 and joined U.S. Navy in 1939. He served on board the USS LEXINGTON (CV-2) and was onboard during the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942, when the Lexington was hit and later sank. He was then stationed onboard a submarine chaser in Florida. Al served onboard the USS MILLETTE (APA 156), attaining the rank of Chief Motor Machinist Mate. The Millette participated in the initial landing and occupation of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and was in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the peace treaty that ended World War II.

After the War, Al returned to San Antonio and married the love of his life, Betty J. Finigan. They had two children before moving to Spokane, WA in 1955. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary!

Al worked for Safeway Stores, Inc. for over 30 years, retiring in 1987. He was a member of the International Association of Machinists for over 50 years, serving as a union shop steward for several years. Al was a past master of the Manito Masonic Lodge, and active in the Scottish Rite, and the El Katif Shrine. For many years he volunteered with the Shriner’s Hospital, transporting patients to and from appointments. Al and BJ loved to travel and visited Alaska, Hawaii, and went through the Panama Canal for their 50th wedding anniversary. They also visited their daughter when she was stationed in Europe. Al and BJ moved to the Riverview Retirement Community in 2002 and Al spent the last years of his life in the Terrace where he made many friends. He will be greatly missed.

Al was preceded in death by his father, Albert Hermann Krafft; mother, Edna Theresa (Ackermann) Krafft; and sisters: Theresa Krafft and Edna (Krafft) Smith. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jean (Finigan) Krafft of Spokane; daughter, Betty L Krafft of Spokane; son, Wayne Krafft and wife Patti O’Neill Krafft of Spokane; and grandson, Casey P. Krafft of Helena, MT.

A memorial service will be held at Riverview Chapel, 1801 E. Upriver Drive, Spokane, WA, on Thursday, June 30, 2016, 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Hospice of Spokane, P. O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210 or the “Al Krafft Memorial” at Riverview Retirement Community, 1801 E Upriver Dr., Spokane, WA 99207. The family would like to thank the staff at Riverview for the loving care Al received over the past ten years and Hospice of Spokane for their assistance in his final days.

Arrangements under the direction of Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home, Spokane, WA.