Richard Douglas Crafton

Richard “Dick” Douglas Crafton of Ellicott City, Maryland passed away on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at the age of 88.  After a three-year battle with cancer, Dick died peacefully at home.  

Dick was born in Baden, Pennsylvania on October 2, 1932, to father H. Herbert Crafton and mother Maude M. Crafton.  The youngest of two girls and three boys, Dick attended parochial school while his two older brothers served in the US military during World War II.  Upon graduation from high school in 1949, Dick attended Pennsylvania State University and graduated in 1954 with a bachelor of science degree in political science.  In November 1954, Dick enlisted in the United States Army, attended Officer Candidate School (OCS), and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in November 1955.  Dick served three years in the Regular Army and 17 years in the United States Army Reserve, before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1975.  Upon his release from the Regular Army in 1955, Dick entered into the banking industry, and later earned his master’s degree in corporate finance from New York University in 1962.  Dick worked for the Maryland National Bank and later made a career at the Export Import Bank of the United States Government, retiring in 1994 as a senior executive.  

Dick served many years on the vestry of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Silver Spring, Maryland.  He was an avid civil war historian and was never one to shy away from stopping the car on a family trip, just to take a picture of a historical roadside marker or cannon.  After his retirement in 1994, he volunteered for 15 years at Gettysburg National Military Park.  Dick had a love of travel, cooking, a good glass of wine, beach trips to Fenwick Island, and a good friendship.  In 1982 Dick met the love of his life, Doris L. Abel of Baltimore, Maryland and married in 1984.  Just prior to Dick’s passing, he and Doris celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary.  Dick was a caring and gentle soul who loved God and his family.

Dick was preceded in death by both of his parents, his sisters Maude and Phyllis, and brothers John and Thomas.  He is survived by his wife, Doris A. Crafton; his former wife, Nancy S. Schnell, and their children, Douglas E. Crafton (Arlene B. Crafton), Sally B. Miller (Stuart H. Miller), Arthur S. Crafton (Robin L. Crafton), and Walter E. Crafton (Christine A. E. Weaver-Crafton); grandchildren Ashley P. Crafton, Matthew A. Wadsworth (Jessica R. Wadsworth), Sean D. Crafton (Angela M. Crafton), Shelley C. Crafton (Tyler A. McDonald), Ellen B. Rager (Ryan C. Rager), Caroline H. Crafton, Arthur S. Crafton Jr., Daniel C. D. Weaver, Emma C. A. Weaver, and Joseph K. N. Weaver; great grandchildren, Marcus A. T. Brittingham, Jaxson A. Wadsworth, Charlotte R. Wadsworth, Luke C. Rager, and Nolan J. Rager. 

A memorial service will be held to celebrate the life of Doris and Dick Crafton.  
11:00 am, Friday, November 4, 2022
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
12621 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904

Following the memorial service, a luncheon will be hosted in the St. Mark’s Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made in Doris and Dick’s honor to their favorite charity, The Humane Society of the United States.

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