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Leroy Russell Craig
Leroy Russell Craig Of Gary, Ind., passed away Wednesday, June 29, 1960, in
Deaconess Hospital, as the result of a two-car crash that occurred four miles
west of Evansville on U.S. Route 460, near Kasson, Ind.
He was born May 2, 1926, in Worthington, Pa., a son of Russell L. and Frances
Melvina (Forester) Craig. He was raised by foster parents, Charles R. and Julia
Eva (Lewis) Forester.
He attended Worthington-West Franklin High School, Worthington, Pa.
He was an steel worker for Local 103.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corp from 7/6/1943 to 12/17/1945.
He had made his home Evansville, prior to moving to Gary, since leaving
Worthington 10 years ago.
He is survived by his father, Russell, wife, Katie, foster mother, Eva Forester
of Nashville, Tn., brother James Craig of Pontiac, Mi., foster brothers John
Forester of Nashville, Tn. and Thomas Forester of Worthington, Pa., and foster
sister, Kathryn McCollum of Erie, Pa., stepson Harry Turner of Va.,
stepdaughters, Norma Baker of Columbus, Oh. and Pat Bennet of Cincinnati, Oh.
He was predeased by his mother, foster father and sister Isabelle Gertrude
Craig.
Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, In.
Arrangements by Schaefer Funeral Home, Evansville, In.
Possible other sibling Shirley M. Craig.
Head-on Crash Kills Former Evansvillian and Illinois Driver Badly Injured Near
Kasson.
Death Victim's Car Swerved Off On Rain-Slick Road.
A former Evansville, Ind. and Worthington, Pa., man was fatally injured
Wednesday afternoon and a Crossville, Ill., woman seriously hurt in a two-car
accident on U.S. Route 460, four miles west of Evansville.
Leroy Craig, 34, Gary, Ind., died in Deaconess Hospital at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday
from head injuries, possible internal injuries and multiple fractures, hospital
official said.
Craig left Evansville about three years ago. He had resided on Fullon Avenue
near the Central Labor Temple nearly 10 years before going to Gary.
They listed the condition of the other car's driver, 57 year-old, Mrs. Frances
Means of Crossville, as serious. She suffered severe facial cuts, and injuries
to both legs at the 1:20 p.m. accident on a curve near Kasson.
SHERRIFF'S deputies and State police reported that Craig, apparently traveling
at a high speed, traveled off the road while traveling west, swerved back onto
the road, and lost control of the auto.
His car crossed the center line to the inside lane of the curve, where it
collided head on with the auto driven by Mrs. Means, officers said. Craig's car
overturned on the right side of the road after the collision.
Craig was driving an automobile owed by a friend, Al Draflen of Brookport, Ill.
The auto was demolished in the collision.
The only known survivor of the deceased is his wife, who came to Evansville from
Gary after the accident.
A friend of Craig's Cecil Fox of 1326 North Fullon Avenue, said Craig had
returned here from Gary to collect money on an insurance claim.
He said that Craig had been injured earlier while on a job in this city, and
stopped by the union hall of Structural Iron Workers Local 103 at 101 West
Franklin Street to visit friends and pay his union dues. Craig held a job as a
steelworker in Gary, Fox said, and was in a hurry to go to Springfield, Ill.,
before returning to work.
Sheriff 's Deputies, Ermal France and Elmer Hass who investigated the accident,
reported that they found $362 in Craig's billfold, but were unable to find a
driver's license. They said the highway was wet and the rain was falling at the
time of the accident.
State Troopers Forrest Cooper and Fred Felix said a blood sample from the crash
victim will be sent to Indianapolis, Ind., for a blood alcohol test.
The body was removed to Schaefer Funeral Home.
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