E Craig Harper
1922 ~ 2010
E Craig Harper, our wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away May 5th, 2010, surrounded by his posterity and his loving and devoted wife Anbae (Annie) Lum. What an honor to have been present to witness the passing of one of our Heavenly Father's most devoted servants. What a great example you were to your family.
Craig was born the second son of Renaldo Earl Harper and Mary Eckersell Darley on April 14, 1922, in Rexburg, Idaho. When Dad was six months old the family relocated to Ogden, Utah where Dad was educated in the Weber County Schools. Dad was looking forward to becoming an Engineer when December 7th, 1941, changed the course of his life. Dad realized that he would become involved in the War but wanted to do it on his terms. He noticed a recruiting poster on a bank building promoting a life in the Navy. What caught his attention was a picture of an airplane, the F4U Corsair, the fastest airplane in the world at that time. He applied for and was accepted to the Navy V5 program for Aviation Cadets. At the end of his training Dad was given the choice of staying in the Navy or graduating as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corp. Since Dad had his heart set flying the F4U Corsair he went with the Marine Corp since they were the ones flying this great airplane. At the age of 21 this small town boy from Utah became an Officer and a Gentleman in the United States Marine Corp. His military service took him to the South Pacific - mostly flying Radar Picket Boat patrols protecting the fleet from Kamikaze attacks. During WWII Dad was a decorated Marine fighter pilot earning the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Before retiring from the Marine Corp he had attained the rank of Major.
Following his military service, Dad returned to Ogden where he met and married our mother, Valmai Prewett Hennessy. They married on November 30th, 1945, in the Salt Lake Temple. The marriage ceremony was officiated by Spencer W. Kimball. Dad and Mom moved to the Los Angeles area of California where over the next thirteen years they became the parents of one son and six daughters. Dad took advantage of the recently passed GI Bill and attended Woodbury College in Los Angeles where he graduated with a degree in Accounting. During this time his brother Tom, who had been working for Columbia Pest Control, called and asked Dad if he would be interested in being part of a franchise opportunity to open a Columbia Pest Control office in Ontario. Dad joined Tom in this venture and they worked together building the business. In 1962 Dad moved his family to San Diego to open second Columbia Pest Control office.
Dad turned the reins of the San Diego business over to his brother Bob in 1973 and returned to Utah to be closer to his children. After 46 years of marriage, Valmai died on Christmas Day of 1991. In October of 1992 Dad married Hannah Elizabeth (Libby) Seely Marcum. They spent 7 wonderful years together -including serving a mission to the Birmingham Alabama Misson - before Libby passed away in March of 2000. On August 8th, 2008 Dad married Ann Lum - his companion and devoted wife for the last two years of his life.
Dad was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His Church service included serving on the Stake High Council, the El Cajon 4th Ward Bishopric, the San Diego East Stake Presidency, the Bishop of a BYU Ward and a temple worker at the Provo Temple. Dad was elected to the Board of the Cajon Valley School District in San Diego and served for eight years.
Dad was a generous man. He was generous with his time and his money. There was never a time he was approached for assistance that the request was declined. Dad was the ultimate peacemaker. Dad loved to travel and he loved musicals. There isn't a Rodgers and Hammerstein song that his children (and most of his grandchildren) can't sing! Dad - thanks for the memories.
Dad is survived by his wife, Ann and his siblings Glenn Harper, Reid (Ruth) Harper, Leslie (Doris) Harper, Carma (Dave) Waterman, Carol Larsen, Robert (JoAnn) Harper and L Ray (Alice) Harper as well as his children Lee Craig (Linda) Harper, Orem, Utah, Kathie (Bob) Fitch, Orem, Utah, currently serving in the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission, Jeri (Leland) Sycamore, Provo, Utah, Debbie Harper (Don Human), Highland, Utah, Mary Harper, Highland, Utah, Janet (William) Bodily, Provo, Utah, Kim Harper, Highland, Utah and Step-daughter Nina (Brent) Bingham, Orem, Utah. He is also survived by 30 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren with three on the way. Dad was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Valmai, second wife Libby and two brothers, Flamm (Dee) and Tom.
Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 10, 2010, at the Park 6th Ward Chapel, 400 West 100 South, Orem, Utah. Family and friends may call Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem and from 10:30-11:15 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Interment will be held at the Calls Fort Cemetery in Honeyville, Utah.
