in memoriam
expanded eulogies
David Craig
David William Craig passed away Dec. 4 in Leawood at age 82.
He was born Oct. 11, 1937, in Odessa, Texas, the son of Theodore Craig and Dorothy Davis Craig. When he was two, the family moved to Peabody, where he grew up on the family’s farm. He graduated from Peabody High School in 1955.
David attended Kansas State University, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and met his future wife Virginia Caldwell of Kansas City, Missouri. His college years were good years and he made many lasting friends. He graduated in 1960 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
David and Virginia were married in 1960 in Kansas City and made their home in Topeka.
David graduated from Washburn University Law School in 1963 and began work with the legal department of the Kansas Highway Commission on condemnation cases throughout Kansas.
He met many real estate appraisers while working and became interested in appraising as his next career. David and Virginia founded David Craig & Co., Inc. Real Estate Appraising and Counseling, which at one time had offices in Topeka, Kansas City, Manhattan, Wichita, and Denver.
David appraised properties throughout the United States ranging from agricultural and large commercial projects to the land for the Denver Airport and even a nuclear power plant. He frequently testified as an expert witness for the Justice Department.
David was active in the state and national appraisal communities, and loved to teach the profession to others. He taught appraisal courses in more than 30 states from the 1970s to the 1990s.
He was president of the Topeka Board of Realtors. David served as President of the Kansas Chapter of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers and, in 1985, became the national president. David also served as president of The Appraisal Foundation, which was established by Congress to set up standards for state licensing and certification of appraisers.
In 1999, after several months of illness, he received a heart transplant. David and his family are forever grateful for this gift of life from the donor family and the care provided over the years by the dedicated doctors and staff at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City. David was blessed with 20 extra years with family and friends.
David and Virginia moved to Leawood in 2003. He enjoyed connecting with old friends, playing golf, traveling, and working at the Village Church Food Pantry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Barbara Hodges.
In addition to Virginia, he is survived by his children, Ted and Alice; his sister, Susan; his grandchildren, Alex, Sofi, Sam, and Ben; and by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Services were Tuesday at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Village Church Food Pantry, or the St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation for the Heart Transplant Program at 4401 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64111. Wilfred Nice