He was born on March 3, 1929 in Richmond, VA, the last of 5 children born to Harry N. Craig and Sarah M. Craig. He enlisted in the US Navy in August 1948 and served as an Electrician’s mate on board the USS MISSISSIPPI until his Honorable Discharge in August 1952. He married his childhood sweetheart, Kathleen Dolores Burkett, on July 24, 1950, and together they raised three children – two daughters, Dorothy Louise and Cynthia Marie, and a son, Raymond Eugene Jr. After his discharge from the Navy, Raymond worked at the Hygrades Meat Products plant in Richmond, starting out as a box sealer in the shipping department and working his way up to Division Manager. When the plant closed in 1968, he began working for the Brechteen Corporation as a traveling salesman, where he was named “Salesman of the Year” in 1977 and 1978. He retired on October 1, 1990.
Raymond became a Freemason in February 1955, joining the Lodge of Strict Observance #207 in Richmond, VA and transferring his membership to Westhampton Lodge #302 when his home lodge closed. He maintained his membership in the Fraternity until his passing, a total of 66 years. He became a Shriner in 1968, joining the ACCA Shrine in Richmond, and upon his relocation to Cary, NC in 1986 he was a Founding Member of the AMRAN Shrine in Raleigh, NC.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; daughters, Dorothy and Cynthia; and his son, Raymond Jr. He has 4 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A viewing for family and friends will be held at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary, NC at 10:00AM on April 1, 2021 with a graveside service at 1:00PM that afternoon at Apex Cemetery, Apex, NC at which time Masonic Rites will be administered.
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