William Everett Craver

William E. Craver, Jr. of Charleston died May 5, 2013.

Mr. Craver was born in Columbus, Georgia on August 14, 1922 and was the son of William E. Craver and Myrtle Ivey Craver. He had been a resident of Charleston since 1946.

He attended George Washington University, where he was a member and president of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, graduated from the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, where he received Scholastic Gold Stars, and served during World War II in the Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean theaters of operation. He was honorably discharged from the U. S. Navy as a Lieutenant, USNR.

He was president of Universal Financial Corporation. During his business career, he was involved in financing, franchising, manufacturing, real estate, shipping, and transportation. He was granted several basic patents in the metal-forming equipment industry.

Mr. Craver served twenty years on the Charleston County Aviation Authority and was chairman for eighteen of those years. He was instrumental in the planning and building of the Charleston International Airport which was dedicated to him when it opened in 1985. Mr. Craver received commendations from the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Air Force, and the South Carolina General Assembly for these accomplishments. On February 28, 2013, South Carolina Governor Nikki R. Haley awarded Mr. Craver the Order of the Palmetto in recognition of his vision leading the Aviation Authority in acquiring the substantial Georgia Pacific tract of land which enabled the Aviation Authority to have the land to sell to Boeing. In 2012, the Executive Association of Greater Charleston named Mr. Craver their Man of the Year for his vision resulting in the Aviation Authority having the land for Boeing to be able to come to Charleston. Mr. Craver was founding chairman and director of the Commissioners Roundtable of the Airports Council International, a worldwide association of airports.


He was an active member in various civic, fraternal, and educational organizations, and was a former trustee of Converse College and a former member of the Board of Governors of the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association. He was an honorary life member of The Hibernian Society and a founding trustee and past president of The Hibernian Society of Charleston Foundation. Mr. Craver was a life member and past president of the Navy League of Charleston. He was a member of the Board of Trustees and president of Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum Foundation. He was also a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of S.C. He was an honorary life member of the Executive Association of Greater Charleston, the Metro Chamber of Commerce, and was the senior member of the Propeller Club, Port of Charleston.

Mr. Craver was a member and deacon of First (Scots) Presbyterian Church. In 1970, he received a certificate of commendation from the congregation for spending a year managing a major church renovation. He was also president of the Men's Bible Class and Men of the Church.

Mr. Craver was a member of the Country Club of Charleston, the Carolina Yacht Club, the St. Andrews Society and was a life member and past president of The Society of First Families of South Carolina 1670-1700. He was an avid sportsman, enjoying golf, water sports, fishing, and hunting.

He was a recipient of the Outstanding Professional Achievement Award, 1960, and the Outstanding Meritorious Alumni Award, 1970, from the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association. He also received various honors and awards for his civic, educational, church, and philanthropic work.

Mr. Craver is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jane McDonald Craver; son, William E. Craver, III (Elizabeth Hagood Craver), of Sullivan's Island; daughters, Virginia Craver Good (Joseph C. Good, Jr.), of Charleston, Ellen Craver Young, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jane Craver Schenck (Alexander Lewis Schenck), of Flat Rock, NC; brother, Hope D. Craver, of Irmo, SC; sister Sylvia Craver Harvey, of Mt. Pleasant; thirteen grandchildren: Joseph C. Good, III, Katharine G. Festner, Jane H. Izard, Anne I. Mead (Stephen), Edward D. Izard, Jr., Katharine S. Izard, Catherine Schenck, Laurinda Schenck, William C. Young, Caroline S. Young, William B. Craver, Samuel T. Craver, and John E. Craver; and two great grandchildren: Walker Festner and Stephen Mead. Mr. Craver is also survived by his assistant of 51 years Marie DeTournillon.

His funeral services will be held at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. The family will receive friends at J. HENRY STUHR INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL, Tuesday, May 7, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Interment will be at Magnolia Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to: The Hibernian Society of Charleston Foundation, 105 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401 and First (Scots) Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 53 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401.