David Craft

Dave Craft was a big man with a big personality. He could spin a story like no other. Fact or fiction? Sometimes it was hard to tell.  He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and telling stories of his adventurous youth and hunting escapades.

David Lee Craft born May 15, 1957, in Seaford and left this world on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at Nanticoke Hospital in Seaford, DE.  He had been recovering from knee replacement surgery but died suddenly.  His family and friends are stunned and heartbroken.

He was a graduate of Seaford High School where he wrestled and played clarinet in the band. During his school years he played Little League and football. He was also a member of the local Boy Scout troop in Seaford. He graduated from Lynchburg College and the University of Maryland with degrees in biology and chemistry. Later, he went to school to become a pharmacist which he did for thirty-five plus years until retirement. He was thought highly of in his profession and by his patients and worked hard to make sure they had the right medication prescribed by their doctors. He was always ready to share his knowledge of pharmaceuticals any many sought out his expertise.

Dave grew up on a farm in Delaware and told stories of picking weeds from the fields by hand.  This farm life instilled in him a strong work ethic which shaped his life. As a youth he worked at various jobs in farming and as a certified scuba diver and lifeguard in DE and MD but always came back to Sussex County DE. He was as comfortable in blue jeans as he was in a suit but hated ties!

Dave loved hunting and sporting clays and had a vast knowledge of firearms. Another passion was his Faith which led him to become part of the Gideon organization whose main objective is to share the word of God. He was bright, moral, loved his family and knew and lived accordingly.

Dave was always close with his parents and built a house next to them to enjoy even more time with them. Even though separated by several states, he stayed in close contact with his brother Brian.  He loved his boys and was very proud of the men they are becoming.  He loved the many dogs he had over his lifetime and especially the one he left behind- his black lab- Hank.

Dave will be remembered for always being willing to stop what he was doing to help his friends. He was very loyal and would boldly defend his loved ones.  He enjoyed watching sports but much to Mary Lou’s chagrin, he was a proud Cowboys fan!  He was a patriot and loved America.  He studied the Constitution and wrote may letters to the Editor that were published. He liked to engage in conversations about politics and constitutional law and could easily hold his own in any debate.

He will be missed by many, especially by his family who loved him dearly.

David Lee Craft is survived by his partner Mary Lou Riley, Bridgeville, who he called the love of his life; his parents Donald and Eileen, Bridgeville; brother Brian (Anne) Chicago; son David, Fruitland Md and son Daniel stationed with USAF in Okinawa, Japan. 

A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday January 31, 2023 at Cranston Funeral Home, 300 Shipley St., Seaford, DE 19973. Friends and family are invited to visitation from 11am to 12pm with a service to follow. Burial will be at Bethel Cemetery, 2381 Neals School Road, Seaford, DE 19973.

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