Frank Elliott Craig, Sr., 90 of Melbourne passed away on August 23, 2009. Born in Philadelphia Pa. Raised in NYC, he was a graduate of Lafayette College and received his masters degree from FSU. He served in US Army during WWII, later joined the US Army Air Corps as a reservist and retired as a US Air Force Lt. Col. in 1978.
Frank moved to Eau Gallie in 1950 and was employed by the US Government at PAFB. For many years Frank served as the face of running in Brevard County through his 45 + years of track and cross country coaching at Melbourne, Eau Gallie, Satellite and Palm Bay high schools and in his role as Cross Country and Track Coach at BCC for 18 years. He was founder of the running club Brevard Striders. He co-founded Space Coast Runners and was the founder of the Melbourne Marathon, which eventually grew into the annual Space Coast Marathon. Frank also co-founded Boy Scouts of America troop 300 in the early 50s in Eau Gallie.
Frank was predeceased by his wife Mary to whom he was married for 61 years. He is survived by his children, Carole Hersey of Wellington, FL and her husband Robert Bud Hersey, Frank E. Craig, Jr. of Orlando, FL, Clayton T. Craig of Melbourne, FL and Norma Betsy Craig of Altamonte Springs, FL, granddaughter, Holly Ford and grandson Rob Hersey of Rockville, MD and four great-grandchildren.
Those whose lives were touched by Frank, are welcomed to join the family for his memorial service at Florida Memorial Gardens (outside the chapel), 5950 South US Hwy 1, Rockledge on Saturday, September 5 at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wuesthoff Hospice and Palliative Care, 8060 Spyglass Hill Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940.