George Craven 1874-1957

CRAVEN, WALKENHORST, NEUMAN, SPRAGUE, ZIMMERMAN, FREEMAN, GIBEAUT

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/13/2019 at 12:13:02

14 March 1957 - The Tipton Conservative

George A. Craven, 82, business man and musician, died early Sunday morning at St. Luke's hospital in Cedar Rapids. He had been in failing health for several months.

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at St. Mary's church with the Rev. E. F. Collins in charge. Burial was in the Tipton Masonic cemetery.

Craven was born Aug. 6, 1874 in Cairo, Ill. He was married to Mary Mathilde Walkenhorst July 24, 1895. Mrs. Craven preceded him in death Feb. 16, 1956.

The Cravens came to Tipton in 1904. He served as leader of the Tipton band and he and four of his five daughters toured the Chautauqua circuit for 12 years with a musical act.

He operated a produce business in the building now occupied by the F. W. Mueller and sons company for many years. It was one of the largest produce houses in eastern Iowa, shipping poultry and eggs in carload lots to the Chicago market.

Later he owned and operated a restaurant in the Craven building until shortly after the death of his wife.

As a business man and property owner, Craven was active in civic affairs for more than half a century.

He is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Irene Neuman, St. Louis, Mo.; Mrs. George Sprague, Joliet, Ill.; Mrs. Ray Zimmerman and Mrs. John Freeman, both of Evanston, Ill., and Mrs. Harold Gibeaut, Mechanicsville; and five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.