Walter Craig Plumhoff

A man with a larger than life presence who never met a stranger, Craig fully embraced his 71 years on earth and leaves behind a legacy of loving his neighbor as himself and loving his God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength.

Craig was born a baby-boomer on the 16th of June 1949, to Franchelle and Walter Plumhoff in Houston, Texas. He spent his childhood in the newly-formed suburb of Hunters Creek Village, riding bikes to school and climbing trees on Kuhlman Road with his younger brother Charlie and cousin Paul.

An ace student, graduating seventh at Memorial High School, Craig decided to put down the books and become the life of the party at the University of Texas at Austin, ‘gatoring’ his way through the Sigma Nu fraternity house and making memories and friends that would last a lifetime. Shortly after graduating with a degree in journalism, Craig met the love of his life – Mary Leslie Gayle – and decided to direct his communication skills towards an insurance brokerage career in order to better support a family. Mary Leslie and Craig married on the 9th of June 1973, and welcomed daughter Mary Kristen in 1978 and son Jonathan one year later.

Always putting family first, Craig decided to form his own company in 1985 to allow him greater flexibility and time with his wife and two children. Plumhoff & Associates grew to be one of the most respected insurance brokerage firms in the industry with Craig at the helm as CEO. He made lifelong friends out of clients and lifelong clients out of friends.

Craig and Mary Leslie made many friends within other circles too, including their neighborhood, church, children’s schools, and country club communities, and have many wonderful memories of entertaining and traveling with friends over the years. Craig especially enjoyed his men’s fishing trips to Alaska.

Throughout his life, Craig walked the walk by putting others before himself, and his infectious personality, down-to-earth charm and big tender heart endeared him to everyone he met. Craig also had a servants heart, particularly for younger people, and involved himself in many organizations throughout his life, including Grace Presbyterian Church youth ministry, Young Life youth ministry, Children’s Charity Board of Directors, Covenant House Board of Directors, Bo’s Place Advisory Board, Houston Country Club’s Toolbox Lunch ministry, Bridges to Life prison ministry and his own bible study ministering to young men for more than a decade.

During his ten years at Grace Presbyterian Church, Craig also served as an elder, deacon and Stephens Minister and organized mission trips to Merida, Mexico, for the building of orphanages.

Craig had a charming way of making his presence known, whether it was in the stands loudly cheering on his grandkids or on the dance floor cutting a wide rug, but the biggest mark he made in this world was his simple way of demonstrating Christ’s love for others – his family, his friends, his kids’ friends, his grandkids’ friends and complete strangers who were lucky enough to cross his path.

Left to celebrate Craig’s full life are his wife, Mary Leslie Plumhoff; daughter, Mary Kristen Valentine and her husband David; son, Jonathan Plumhoff and his wife Alison; four grandchildren, Mary Morgan Valentine, Catherine Valentine, Parker Plumhoff and Maddy Plumhoff; brother, Charlie Plumhoff and his wife Trinka; nephews, Chuck Plumhoff and his wife Corinne and Jamie Plumhoff.

The family will gather for a private memorial service at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 28th of August, at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. All are invited to join them virtually during the livestream of the service, link accessible at www.CraigPlumhoff.com, where you may also share memories with his family.

A celebration of his life is planned for Spring of 2021.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his name be directed to the Rheumatology Research Foundation, 2200 Lake Blvd., Atlanta, GA, 30319; Bridges To Life prison ministry, 8554 Katy Fwy., Suite 300, Houston, TX, 77024; or towards an engraved bench at Hunters Creek Elementary School through the Spring Branch Education Foundation, 955 Campbell Rd., Houston, TX, 77024. Direct links to these sites are accessible below under "Donations."