Claude Neil Craven
Claude Neil Craven, 82, of Big Spring died at 9:10 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2005, in his home, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2005, at Trinity Baptist Church with The Rev. Randy Cotton officiating, assisted by the Rev. Neal Brillhart of San Angelo and Richard D. Craven, son and pastor of New Testament Baptist Church in Lubbock. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends today, May 2, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel.
He was born March 7, 1923, in Caddo, Okla., to L.C. and Mary S. Craven. He served in the United States Army during World War II from 1941 to 1947, in the South Pacific. He married Lillie Elizabeth Beck Aug. 4, 1945.
Rev. Craven graduated from Bible Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth May 29, 1952, and received a doctor of divinity degree from Bible Baptist Seminary, May 13, 1971. He also received a Bachelor of Science degree from Arlington Baptist College, May 17, 1979.
He was pastor of four different churches during his lifetime. His first pastorate was in Roanoke during seminary. After graduation, he pastored in Childress. Eighteen months later, he became pastor of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle in Fort Scott, Kan., where he spent 13 years.
He moved to Big Spring and became pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church in August 1965 and retired from Trinity Baptist Church in January 1993, after 28 years as pastor.
Rev. Craven served as camp director at Pot O'Gold Ranch in Comfort from 1966 to 1991. He has since served as an evangelist and has preached mission meetings and revival meetings in churches all across America.
He was especially an advocate for "faith-promise" mission giving. He was president of the World Baptist Fellowship for two terms, and he served as chairman of the board of directors for Bible Baptist Seminary/Arlington Baptist College for more than 20 years, and he was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
He is survived by his loving wife, Beth, of almost 60 years of marriage; two sons, Dana Craven and wife, Marion of Oxford, Ala., and Richard Craven and wife, Melanie of Lubbock; three daughters, Jan Christopher and husband, Neil of Lubbock, Carolyn Schalk and husband, Joe of Grand Forks, N.D., and Patricia Hasting and husband, Rick of Ardmore, Ala.; three sisters, Ann Horton, June Powell and Bessie Blades all of Amarillo; two brothers, L.C. Craven and Wayne Craven, both of Amarillo; 17 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters. The family suggests memorials to Trinity Baptist Church Mission Fund, P.O. Box 1448, Big Spring 79721-1448 or to Arlington Baptist College, 3001 W. Division, Arlington, TX 76012.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.
Claude Neil Craven
Claude Neil Craven, 82, of Big Spring died at 9:10 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2005, in his home, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2005, at Trinity Baptist Church with The Rev. Randy Cotton officiating, assisted by the Rev. Neal Brillhart of San Angelo and Richard D. Craven, son and pastor of New Testament Baptist Church in Lubbock. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends today, May 2, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel.
He was born March 7, 1923, in Caddo, Okla., to L.C. and Mary S. Craven. He served in the United States Army during World War II from 1941 to 1947, in the South Pacific. He married Lillie Elizabeth Beck Aug. 4, 1945.
Rev. Craven graduated from Bible Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth May 29, 1952, and received a doctor of divinity degree from Bible Baptist Seminary, May 13, 1971. He also received a Bachelor of Science degree from Arlington Baptist College, May 17, 1979.
He was pastor of four different churches during his lifetime. His first pastorate was in Roanoke during seminary. After graduation, he pastored in Childress. Eighteen months later, he became pastor of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle in Fort Scott, Kan., where he spent 13 years.
He moved to Big Spring and became pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church in August 1965 and retired from Trinity Baptist Church in January 1993, after 28 years as pastor.
Rev. Craven served as camp director at Pot O'Gold Ranch in Comfort from 1966 to 1991. He has since served as an evangelist and has preached mission meetings and revival meetings in churches all across America.
He was especially an advocate for "faith-promise" mission giving. He was president of the World Baptist Fellowship for two terms, and he served as chairman of the board of directors for Bible Baptist Seminary/Arlington Baptist College for more than 20 years, and he was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
He is survived by his loving wife, Beth, of almost 60 years of marriage; two sons, Dana Craven and wife, Marion of Oxford, Ala., and Richard Craven and wife, Melanie of Lubbock; three daughters, Jan Christopher and husband, Neil of Lubbock, Carolyn Schalk and husband, Joe of Grand Forks, N.D., and Patricia Hasting and husband, Rick of Ardmore, Ala.; three sisters, Ann Horton, June Powell and Bessie Blades all of Amarillo; two brothers, L.C. Craven and Wayne Craven, both of Amarillo; 17 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters. The family suggests memorials to Trinity Baptist Church Mission Fund, P.O. Box 1448, Big Spring 79721-1448 or to Arlington Baptist College, 3001 W. Division, Arlington, TX 76012.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.
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