Obituary of Charles Robert Craig

Charles R. (Bob) Craig passed away on April 6, 2021 at Sundale Nursing Home. Bob was born in Buckhannon, WV on January 24, l936. His parents Thorne C. and Martha Blakeslee Craig moved to the hamlet of Ireland, WV where he grew up. He graduated as valedictorian from Walkersville (WV) High School in 1951. He spent three years in the US Army at Washington, DC., San Antonio, Texas, Heilbronn, Germany, and Colorado Springs, CO. He graduated from Glenville State College with a BS in Chemistry. He received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Bob met his wife, Margaret Kuhl, at Glenville State College ins 1958. Their son, Gary Lynn Craig, was born in 1961. Bob and Margaret have lived in Madison, WI, Minneapolis, MN, Skokie, IL, and in Morgantown since 1966. They enjoyed a sabbatical semester in Canberra, Australia in 1976. Bob’s hobbies included travelling, playing bridge, working in the yard and garden, and fine dining. Bob joined the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at the West Virginia University School of Medicine in 1966 as Assistant Professor; he was promoted to Professor in 1976. As a faculty member, Bob conducted research sponsored by NIH, NSF, and other agencies. He published over 60 peer reviewed manuscripts and abstracts and monographs. He, along with his friend, Bob Stitzel, published a Pharmacology Textbook through 6 editions. Bob served as advisor to 7 Ph.D. recipients. He chaired numerous committees, including the Medical Student Academic Standards Committee and the School of Medicine Faculty Promotion and Tenure Committee. Bob was Director of the WVU MD/Ph.D. Program and for several years and Director of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program. He was active in teaching and was coordinator for the Medical Pharmacology course for several years. Bob was Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, School of Medicine for four years, and retired as Director of WVU Office of Research Compliance in 2008. Following retirement, Bob became involved with OLLI at WVU, where he was president from 2010 to 2013. He taught several courses, coordinated a series of “Medical School 101” classes and took innumerable courses. He led many wine tasting courses (along with Ron Porter from Kroger). In addition to his wife, Margaret, Bob is survived by his son, Gary, wife Judy and three grandchildren, Andrew, Megan, and Taylor. He is also survived by a sister, Nancy, and a brother, Carl Richard. Bob wishes to acknowledge the excellent treatment he received at WVU Medicine, his personal care physician, Kendra Unger, Urologist, Chad Morley, Carl Schrader, Sundale Nursing Home, and the entire Morgantown Hospice group. A celebration of life is being planned at a future date. Upon Bob’s request, cremation will be entrusted by Hastings Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bob’s memory may be made to Suncrest U.M. Church, 479 Van Voorhis Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, Olli at WV, P. O. Box 9123, Morgantown, WV 26505, Morgantown Hospice, 3596 Collins Ferry Road, Morgantown, WV 26505. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com