Ann Williams Craig's Obituary
Ann Craig Obituary
Ann Williams Craig, 88, died March 11, 2022, at Kendal at Oberlin, in the presence of family. She suffered from a neurological illness (progressive supranuclear palsy) for many years, yet always kept her calm and was amazing at greeting everyone by name almost to the last. The daughter of United Methodist missionaries, Annie Lee and Melville Williams, Ann was born in Suzhou, China, April 9, 1933, living in Suzhou and Shanghai until she was seven. After teenage years in Leonia, NJ, she met her future husband, Norman Craig, the summer before enrolling at Oberlin College. Ann graduated in 1955 in history, married Norm that summer, and joined him in Cambridge, MA. In 1957, she completed an M.Ed. from Harvard School of Education, and they moved back to Oberlin. Ann taught elementary school at Pleasant School before welcoming their first child, Julie. Mary and David soon joined the family. Ann collaborated with other mothers to form playgroups for their children, and she enjoyed hosting dinners as a faculty wife and as part of an international foods group. In 1968, Ann took a leading role in facilitating town meetings, gathering people across Oberlin to envision a fairer, more inclusive community. As one outcome, participants identified the need for targeted interventions in Oberlin schools to support children struggling with the curriculum. Inspired, Ann trained at Oberlin College and Kent State University to teach elementary school children with learning disabilities. She worked as a tutor and then led a resource room for math and reading, first at Pleasant and then at Prospect School, retiring in 1997. Ann was a devoted choir member at the First Church in Oberlin, also serving as church moderator, among other roles. She shared her gift of luminous presence as a hospital visitor and host for families experiencing homelessness. She brought her beautiful singing voice to Oberlin Musical Union and Oberlin Chamber Singers for many decades. Ann’s passions for gardening, cooking, sewing, knitting, and jewelry-making live on in her children. She offered loving care to her parents when they moved to Oberlin in their later years and to her grandson Simon and his family during his difficult journey with terminal neuroblastoma. Ann is survived by children, Julie (Ralph), Mary (Markus), and David (Jocelyn); grandchildren, Margot (Kris), Claudia, Nathan, Eliza, and Miriam; and the extended Williams and Tabbutt families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Craig, in 2021; parents; grandson, Simon Vodosek; and brother, George Melville Williams. Her children recognize and thank the caring staff at Kendal at Oberlin. A memorial service will be 1:30 pm Sunday, May 22, 2022 at the First Church in Oberlin, 106 N Main St. Those interested in joining in person or online may contact First Church in Oberlin for details. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in memory of Ann to the Community Foundation of Lorain County for the Oberlin Schools Endowment Fund, https://lorain.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=1586Memorial ServiceFirst Church in OberlinSunday, May 22, 2022 1:30 PM 106 N. Main St.Oberlin, OH 44074
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