Craig Lowell Meadors

Craig Meadors no longer needs to imagine what it will be like when surrounded by His Glory! Craig died at the age of 80, with his wife Marilyn, sons Paul and Andrew, and daughter-in-law Lori at his side. He took his last breath Thursday, April 14, 2022, around 1:45pm, in the Veterans Hospital, Fresno, California. After a massive stroke took his speech and ability to move his entire right side on January 19, 2018, Craig now is singing praises to his Lord and moving in time with the music in Heaven!

Craig was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Anne (Glanzer) Meadors; his brother, Gary Meadors; Uncle Elmer ‘Dutch’ and Aunt Betty (Wright) Glanzer, and their daughter Gretchen (Glanzer) Katamay; Uncle Joe and Aunt ‘Bunny’ Glanzer; Uncle Ray and Aunt Phoebe ‘Kitty’ (Glanzer) Reed, and their son Philip Reed.

Craig is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Whitney) Meadors; son, Paul Whitney Meadors and his wife Lori Lynn (Myers) Meadors, and granddaughters Georgie Lynn Meadors, Alexandra Whitney Meadors, and Ruthie Joy Meadors; son Andrew Meadors and grandchildren Luke Craig Meadors and Kennedy Loraine Meadors; sister-in-law Marilyn (Jones) Meadors, and nephews Marty Meadors and Marc Meadors; cousins Garth Glanzer, Gayle (Glanzer) Surabian, and Reggie Reed.

Craig Lowell Meadors was born in Reedley on October 12,1941. He attended Dinuba schools starting from Kindergarten, graduating in 1959 from Dinuba High School, where he was Senior class president.

He was raised on a farm and was driving tractor at the age of 8. He had very fond memories of his growing up time in Dinuba.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Craig and his mom would sit next to the radio and listen to Vin Scully announce the Dodger games. Craig was an avid Dodger fan all his life.

While attending Reedley College, Craig received his draft notice and immediately went to the recruiting station to sign up with the Navy to “see the world”. He saw Vietnam. Craig served from May 31,1962 through July 29,1966 as a Medical Corpsman attached to the Marines for three of his four years of service. His time in Vietnam was mid-May,1965 to Mid-August,1966, a year that impacted the rest of his life.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy in July, Craig returned to Dinuba to resume his college education. It was that next month that he met his future wife, Marilyn Whitney. Craig and Marilyn were married a little over three months later. This past December 18th, they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.

For Craig to continue his quest towards a Bachelors Degree, Craig and Marilyn moved to San Jose the summer of 1967. He graduated in 1970 from San Jose State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design. After working for an advertising agency for a couple of years, Craig struck out on his own and became Craig Meadors Advertising, a one-man business that continued up to the day of his stroke.

Craig's greatest joys were his sons, Paul (born in 1971) and Andrew (born in 1974). Soon after Andrew was born, the family moved from San Jose to Dinuba where they lived for 26 years. Many days were spent attending their sons’ concerts and sporting events, missing nearly none of their activities. Paul and Andrew each married in 2000.

Craig and Marilyn dedicated their lives to following Jesus in 1975. Craig had been reading the book of John, and after closing his Bible stated, “I believe every Word in this book.”

In 2001, the couple moved into a new home in Clovis. Craig semi-retired in 2005, giving them time to travel within the United States. For thirteen years, along with short trips, a specially planned yearly vacation took place, the least amount days was eight, with the most 22.

Baseball was the family’s favorite sport. Craig & Marilyn were season ticket holders of the Fresno Grizzlies where they were chosen Fans of the Year in 2006.

Craig’s life was full with many church activities. After moving to Clovis, finding an immediate fit with CrossCity Christian Church (known previously as Northside), Craig & Marilyn regularly attended the early Sunday service as well as the Wednesday morning Second Half, a ministry to seniors. Since 2008, Craig facilitated a weekly LIFE group in their home, which still meets.

Craig also was very active in the local Vietnam Veterans of America (chapter 933) where he had been chaplain, and then secretary. Craig designed the chapter’s quarterly newsletter. He won VVA best newsletter in California in 2016, then was awarded best national newsletter from over 500 chapters in the United States in 2017.

Since 2003, when the first grandchild was born, Craig & Marilyn turned their attention to the five Meadors grandchildren born within a five year range. Always handy with hugs, tickle-rubs, and silliness, Georgie, Alex, Ruthie, Luke, and Kennedy gave Craig blessings upon blessings.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022 at CrossCity Christian Church, 10:30am in the Worship Center. A potluck (Craig’s favorite type of meal) will follow in the Kids Center along with a display of memorabilia of Craig’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 933 or Second Half Ministries of CrossCity Christian Church.