Willis K. Craven (1950)

CRAVEN, KENWORTHY, DAILEY, COMLY, RANDALL, COMPTON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 12/23/2006 at 08:52:37

Earlham Echo - February 2, 1950
Earlham, Iowa

Willis K. Craven, son of Newton D. and Mary Kenworthy Craven was born near Stuart, Iowa December 23, 1871, and departed this life at his home near Casey, Iowa, January 20th, 1950, age 78 years and 28 days old.

The parents returned to the Bear Creek community when he was a small child, and as Newton Craven soon became a minister in the United Brethren church the family lived in various places in the West Des Moines Conference. After the death of his father which occurred when Willis was 18 years old, he with his mother, two brothers and two sisters again came to the Bear Creek and Earlham communities to make their home.

He was married to Nora E. Dailey in 1906. To this union three children were born, Robert Paul, who died in infancy, Pauline Comly, and Clarence N., who preceded him in death in 1940.

Willis accepted Christ as his Savior in early life and gave himself whole heartedly to the furthering the cause of Christ. In the year 1916 he and his wife left their home near Earlham and entered the ministry. Since that time they served as pastors in Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas--the last pastorate being at Valton, Wisconsin. His special gift seemed to be in the evangelistic field. Nothing pleased him more than to see souls seeking Christ. He bore on heart constantly the burden for spiritual welfare of the churches which continued, during his last illness.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two sons, two brothers, Charles M. and J. Otis, and one sister, Eva Wheeler Randall.

He leaves in passing, his wife, one daughter, Pauline Comly of Casey, and her husband Harold, a daughter-in-law, Dorothy Craven of Wichita, Kansas, a grandson, Larry Comly, and one sister, Mrs. N. E. Compton of Cottage Grove, Oregon.

Funeral services were held in the Earlham Friends church, Lawrence Sams and Arthur Hadley, in charge, January 23, 1950.

(Burial was made in the Earlham cemetery)