Virginia A. Craig

That your faith shall not fail, that your steps shall be with assurance, and your heart find no fear in anything; that peace and love shall abound in you – that you shall know you are not alone: for the hand of God is before you, and I am beside you.

Forever,

Neal

1/6/40

VIRGINIA A. CRAIG

Virginia A. Craig, 97, of Austin, Texas, died on February 1, 2015. She was born on July 21, 1917, in Waco, Texas, the youngest girl and the cutest of five siblings, fondly nicknamed "Ginger" by her family as a schoolgirl. She met the love of her life, Neal Craig, on the steps of the Sears & Summit Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas, and they were married on November 21, 1940. They lived in Dallas for five years during World War II, where he worked for Lockheed Aircraft. Following the war, they moved to Laredo, Texas, and operated the town's only venetian blind and window screen shop for 19 years. They raised their children in Laredo, and were instrumental in founding the Arkansas Avenue Church of Christ, where Neal served as a lay preacher. In 1964, with two children still at home, they sold their business and moved to Austin. Neal completed his college education and joined the English faculty at The University of Texas, where he was a beloved teacher and counselor until his death in 1971. Virginia took up a career with the Department of Public Safety after his death, and remained in Austin following her retirement in 1982. She was a steadfast member of the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ for over 50 years.

Virginia had a quick wit, a great sense of humor and an intellectual curiosity about people and politics. She faithfully read the editorial page of the Austin paper; Leonard Pitts and the late Molly Ivins were among her favorite columnists. She was possessed of a love of people – she often said how much she loved faces because of the stories they told about people – and a love of poetry, and she enjoyed the art of conversation, especially about her faith and one of her literary and spiritual heroes, C.S. Lewis. Her collection of books by and about Lewis spanned six decades. She maintained a genuine curiosity about the world and her place in it throughout her life, and made lasting relationships with many people, most of whom have joined "that great cloud of witnesses" before her. She remained in love with her husband until her death. She was very proud of her children for their meaningful work in the world and for their dedication to their families. She was full of wisdom and grace, although she would humbly argue that this was not so.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, Neal Adams Craig; her parents, William and Helen Abel; her brothers, Bill and Jack Abel; and her sisters, Gladys Green and Ethylyn Spalding. She is survived by her children: Gerald N. Craig and his wife, Shirley, of Fort Worth, Texas; Michael A. Craig and his wife, Betty Devine, of Houston, Texas; Richard N. Craig and his wife, Sybil, of Harrison, Arkansas; Deborah C. Schumann and her husband, Tim, of Austin, Texas; Carolyn M. Bates and her husband, Ken, of Austin, Texas; and Cynthia K. Duggins, of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Jack Spalding, of Fort Worth, Texas, and by grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews and nieces, and lifelong friends. All of these she dearly loved and all of these will sorely miss her.

The family would like to thank Dr. David Wright and Dr. Eric Lambeth for their dedicated care of Virginia; devoted friends Judy Brewer, Steve and Janice Fuller, Joyce Hughes, Sarah McBride, Mary Beth McCown, Cynthia Miller, Marsha Walker, and Gwen White; the staff of Parsons House for their inclusion of her as part of their family; Dr. Bruce Malone, Dr. Padma Pothala, and the caring and attentive staff at St. David's Medical Center; and Hospice Austin for their ministry and aid in the final chapter of her life.

Virginia's family will celebrate her life at the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ, located at 11908 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2015, Roger McCown presiding. Burial will follow at the cemetery in Junction, Texas, located at the intersection of S. Llano & S. 20th Streets, at 5:00 p.m. Pallbearers include grandsons Gerald N. Craig II, Daryl N. Craig, Kendall P. Craig, Christopher Craig, and nephews Bryan McMahan and Kendall G. Craig. Honorary pallbearers include granddaughters Anne Tomlin and Emily Schumann, and step-grandchildren Cheryl Baker, Patty Devine, Shan Bates, and Kimberly Armstrong.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Virginia's request that charitable donations be made in her memory to The Center for Science and the Arts of Brentwood Christian School of Austin, Texas (http://www.brentwoodchristian.org), or the Medina Children's Home of Medina, Texas (http://www.armsofhope.com).