Preston Craighill

Samuel Preston Craighill, Jr. died Friday morning October 28th at Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg, Virginia. Born in Lynchburg on July 4th, 1923, he was the son of Lois Vaughn Ligon and Samuel Preston Craighill.

Preston attended Lynchburg City Schools, Episcopal High School in Alexandria and graduated from Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg before entering the University of Virginia as a Navy ROTC student in 1941. In October of 1942 he was transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve Program at the University of North Carolina before being reassigned to the Navy and sent to Officer Training School at Columbia University. There he graduated in the top 5% from his class in the Naval Midshipman School as an Ensign in August of 1943.

Craighill trained for Amphibian Naval operations at Soloman, MD. He was later sent to Guam as skipper of an amphibious landing craft. He saw two years of active service in the Mariana Islands and on Ulithi, an atoll where the largest floating supply depot in the U.S. service was located and a home base for ships preparing for the invasion of the Philippines.

After his return from the Pacific Theater of Operations in June 1946, Craighill remained in the Naval Reserve Program and was later called back for duty in the Korean War in August 1950. He joined an attack cargo ship, the USS Alshain, as boat group commander for the 26 landing crafts. He served as officer of the deck during general quarters and at sea, retiring in February 1953 after 13 years of active duty.

Prior to the war, Preston began his business career as vice-president and secretary of Southern Textiles. After returning from Korea, he was sales manager for N&W Industries. Long associated with the shoe industry, Craighill worked at Craddock Terry Shoe Corp for many years serving as vice-president of sales and general manager of Universal Corp. which was its largest division. He was later associated with the Monroe Shoe Company in Little Rock, Arkansas, before retiring in April of 1986.

A lifetime and faithful member of First Presbyterian Church, he served as an elder and deacon. He was a member of the Rotary Club, vice-president of the Navy League, member of the Civil War Round Table along with Oakwood and Boonsboro Country Clubs.

His main interest centered around his family. Throughout his life, S.P., as he was affectionately called by his grandchildren, spent countless hours enjoying their company. Sammy, as he was called by his closest friends, also enjoyed hiking, camping and being outdoors. He was a dedicated Redskin and UVA football fan, Civil War buff and had a great love of automobiles.

In addition to his wife of 57 years, Anne Carrington Craighill, he is survived by three sons, Samuel Preston Craighill III and his wife, Marian; Edward Carrington Craighill and his wife, Susan; Robert Bruce Craighill and his wife, Jata; as well as 10 grandchildren: Anne Harrell Craighill, Laura Starke Craighill, Sally Langhorne Craighill, Marian Preston Craighill, Charles Edward Craighill, Margaret Corry Craighill, Samuel Carrington Craighill, William Lawton Craighill, Katherine Stuart Craighill and Mercer Forbes Craighill. He is also survived by his sister, Lois Craighill Sale.

Visitation will be at the home of Marian and Preston Craighill, Sunday, October 30th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Monday, October 31st at 2:00pm with the Reverend John Scholer officiating. A reception will follow the service at Marian and Preston\"™s house. Private interment will be at Spring Hill Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorial contributions be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1215 VES Road, Lynchburg VA, 24503 or the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 2314, Lynchburg VA, 24505.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.