Edward Darwin (Ed) Craddock, Jr.

Edward Darwin (Ed) Craddock, Jr., 73, of Vilonia, Arkansas, passed away on Friday, December 17, 2010 following a brief illness at local medical center surrounded by his immediate family members. Ed was born in Lampasas, Texas on October 22, 1937 to the late Edward D. Craddock, Sr. and Mary Lucille (Smith) Craddock of Burnet, Texas. Ed was a loyal and devoted husband, father, and grandfather and a devout Christian. He graduated from high school in Hitchcock, Texas, where he was a star athlete in baseball, basketball, and football. He briefly attended Blinn College on a basketball scholarship, then earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston in 1963. He was deeply patriotic and very proud of his service in the U.S. Navy from 1955-63, where he was on active duty aboard the USS Howard D. Crow during the Cuban missile crisis. Prior to retirement, he worked for many years in the heavy equipment industry including five years with Mustang Equipment Co. in Houston, Texas; 19 years with Holt Machinery Co. in San Antonio, Texas; three years with Trinity Equipment Co. in Irving, Texas; and three years with Saudi Arabian Services Company in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Ed worked seven years for the City of Little Rock Housing Authority as a maintenance operations/contracting officer, construction manager, and job order contracts project manager. After spending two years with Carter & Burgess in Little Rock, Ed retired. Following retirement, he worked for several years at the Home Depot in Conway, Arkansas on a part-time basis. Ed is survived by his wife of 53 years, Diane Craddock, of Vilonia; daughter, Sheryl E. Whited (Byron), of Austin, Texas; son, Edward D. Craddock, III (Janice), of Benbrook, Texas, and son, Christopher S. Craddock (Adriana), of Laredo, Texas. He is survived by five grandchildren; Joshua Kercho, and Christina, Joey, Victoria, and Katherine Craddock. Ed also leaves behind his beloved dogs Tammy and Sophie. The family wishes to thank: Dr. Tyrone Lee and Dr. Sue Tsuda and their staffs for the dedicated care they gave to Ed, Thanks are given to the following nursing staff of the Conway Regional Medical Center's Critical Care Unit: Deanna, Chastity, Axis, Marilyn, Jana, and Brook. The family also wants to thank Angie, Robin, and Beckey of the 2nd floor nursing staff. Ed requested to be cremated, and for his ashes to be interred at the Post Oak Mountain Cemetery in Burnet, Texas in the spring of 2011. Local arrangements are under the direction of Roller McNutt Funeral Home of Conway, Arkansas 501-327-7727. Family members and friends are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in memory of Ed to the Salvation Army or Humane Society of Faulkner County.