Gene Allen Craven

Gene Allen Craven, age 90, of Monticello, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2019, at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta.

Allen was born on November 2, 1928 at Mt. Yonah, GA. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and proudly served in World War II on the USS William A. Mann in the Asia Pacific theatre.

After the war he worked in construction and built his own company, Craven Drywall of Dunwoody. For more than 40 years he worked with builders throughout Georgia until he retired in 1995. Allen was a lifelong member of Chamblee Masonic Lodge 444. He also was a member of the VFW and American Legion.

Allen and his wife, Eileen, built and ran Timbuktu Farms on Murder Creek in 1998, growing heirloom corn and vegetables. His favorite pastime was grafting and growing heirloom fruit trees. The heirloom “Craven Red Crab apple” is named after him in honor of his work in saving it from extinction.

In addition to his wife, Eileen S. Ott, he is survived by stepsons James (Joseph), Anaheim, Calif, and Daniel (Samantha Prado) of Jacksonville, Fla.; grandchildren Mason and Morgan Ott, Fernandina Beach, Fla., sister, Clara Reed Hobbs, many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Oneedus Warbington Craven, and his son, Wayne Allen Craven.

Funeral services are private with burial on North Atlanta Memorial Park in Dunwoody.