Warren Denton Craigo

Services for Warren Denton Craigo, 90, of Willoughby, will be at 7 PM on Friday, March 3, 2017 at Davis-Babcock Funeral Home, 4154 Clark Avenue, Willoughby. The Rev. David T. Durkit of The First United Church of Christ in Eastlake will officiate at the service.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 PM on Friday, prior to the service, at the funeral home.

Mr. Craigo passed away Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at Lake West Medical Center in Willoughby.

Born April 28, 1926 in Winfield, OH, he has lived in Willoughby since 1953.

He graduated from Sugarcreek-Shanesville High School, class of 1944 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served with the 5th Division during the invasion of Iwo Jima in January, 1945, and he took part in the Navy V-12 program at Yale University. Following his discharge from the Marine Corps, he attended Kent State University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1948 and his Master’s degree in Education in 1952. He later earned his Doctorate in Education at Ohio University in Athens.

Mr. Craigo served as an athletic coach and teacher at Bolivar Local Schools for five years before relocating to Willoughby, where he joined the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools. He served in Willoughby-Eastlake for 30 years, as a teacher, principal of the former Browning Elementary School, Willoughby Junior High School and as the first principal of South High School when it opened in 1959. He continued to serve the district as Director of Secondary Education, Director of Personnel and Assistant Superintendent, retiring in 1983.

His other activities included more than 63 years as a member of the Coldwell Lodge 330 Free and Accepted Masons in Bolivar, Ohio and the Scottish Rite, Valley of Cleveland for 18 years. He was an active, charter member of the First United Church of Christ in Eastlake where he served as the initial moderator in 1962 and continued to serve in various capacities.

Survivors are his wife of 65 years, Barbara (Haueter) Craigo; daughter, Jennifer (Paul) Chenderlin; sons, Jeff (Linda) Craigo and John Craigo; grandsons, Brian (Julie) Craigo, Kevin (Corin) Craigo, Michael Chenderlin, Ethan Craigo and Maxwell Craigo; great-grandchildren and Ada and Solomon Craigo. He also leaves his sister-in-law, Jacqueline Craigo.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mabel (Finzer) Craigo and an infant daughter. His parents, Fred and Mary (Ripley) Craigo and brother, Allen Craigo are also deceased.

Graveside services and final resting place will be in Eastlawn Cemetery in Sugarcreek, OH at 11 AM on Saturday, March 4, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to the First United Church of Christ, 36721 Lakeshore Boulevard, Eastlake, OH 44095.