Obit of Kraft, Victor "Duane" - Texas County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Howard Grisso 15 May 2005 Return to Texas County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/texas/texas.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Surnames: KRAFT, BROWN, Dugan, Wilson Originally posted at: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/GcB.2ACI/287 From the Medford (OR) Mail Tribune 03-06-2005 at www.mailtribune.com Photo included Victor "Duane" Kraft, formerly of Medford, passed away in Phoenix, Arizona on February 13, 2005. Duane was born March 15, 1925 in Guymon, Oklahoma to Victor and Margaret G. (Brown) Kraft. In 1936, he moved with his family to Southern California. He was a proud WW II vet, having entered the service on May 29,1943 at Los Angeles California. After basic training at Camp Barkley, Texas, he was sent for special training at Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso, Texas. He joined the 50th Field Hospital at Camp Atterbury in Indianapolis, Indiana and was sent overseas to England in Jaunuary of 1944 where their Field Hospital received the first casualties from the D-Day Invasion of Normandy. He joined the 82nd Airborne and participated in the airborne invasion of Holland, landing on D-Day 1944, by glider. He was in the crossing of the Rhine River and the Battle of the Bulge. At the conclusion of the war, he returned from central Germany to Saissons, France. He returned to the United States where he was honorably discharged at Camp Beale, California January, 19, 1946. On June 25,1949 at St. Elizabeth's church in Altadena, California he married the former Mary Frances Dugan, who preceded him in death in February 2004. They moved to Oregon in 1950 where he became an employee of Pacific Northwest (Ma) Bell. Duane was a member of the Sacared Heart Parish (for over 50 years), as well as the Knight's of Columbus. He actively participated and led the Boy Scouts of Troop No. 1 as both Assistant and Scout Master during the 1960s. His leadership and the skills he taught, along with his efforts at making scouting fun are still remembered and appreciated by many former Scouts. Help Line, and Life Line were also organizations in which he volunteered his time and service. He retired from Pacific Northwest Bell on December 12,1977 after 27 years of service. After his retirement, he and his wife, Mary, spent many fun filled years motorhoming around the country. They were members of the Good Sam Club and the Telephone Pioneers and enjoyed their many friends and adventures. Survivors include his sister, Lois; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Lupe; son-in-law and daughter, Richard and Nancy Wilson; and three grandsons. He will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife at the V.A. National cemetary in Eagle Point. A memorial Mass will be held in his honor on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 10 a.m. at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, 32648 N. Cave Creek Rd. in Phoenix, Arizona. Duane was a loving husband and a wonderful father. His outgoing nature and cheerful disposition were great examples to both family and friends. He was dearly loved and will be missed by all. Donations may be made in his name to the Oregon Heart Association, or to the Cardiac Care Unit at either Providence Hospital or Rogue Valley Medical Center. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Texas County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/texas/texas.html