Jonesboro- Thomas Hudson Craft, 84, passed away Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Flo \u0026 Phil Jones Hospice House.

Thomas was born October 3, 1932 in Memphis, Tennessee, the eldest child of William J.B. Craft and Beatrice Carl Craft. Growing up during the Depression shaped Tom's life and his values. Surrounded with all his Craft cousins and his brother and sisters, he was always grateful for family and friends and always willing to do whatever he could to help anyone.

Tom attended school and became a member of the Methodist Church in the small community of Hulbert near West Memphis. He was a 1950 graduate of West Memphis High School and joined the Air Force in April, 1951. After training at bases across the United States, Tom served with European Occupation Forces in Germany, France and Greece keeping communication equipment working. In April, 1955, he was honorably discharged and returned to Hulbert. In the fall of 1955, he entered the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and later attended Arkansas State University.

In 1957, because of his special training with the military, Tom was offered a position with IBM Corporation as a customer service representative. He received his training at IBM Headquarters in Armonk, New York. His first service area was the downtown business district of Memphis where he walked from office to office carrying his thirty pound service case. In 1963, he was transferred to Jonesboro to establish an IBM presence in northeast Arkansas. He serviced IBM equipment in schools, businesses, medical facilities and churches throughout his northeast Arkansas territory. To keep up with new IBM products and advances in equipment, Tom attended schools in Lexington, Kentucky; Atlanta, Georgia; Irvin, California; Boca Raton, Florida and Chicago, Illinois. He was a two-time recipient of the "IBM Means Service" award before his retirement in 1994 after thirty-eight years of service.

During retirement, Tom spent many hours helping others, enjoying his family and friends, serving his church, First United Methodist of Jonesboro, walking at the mall and visiting with his coffee table friends.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Barbara Ann.

He is survived by his wife of thirty-seven years, Jane Ann Duffel Craft of the home; his daughter, Amy Craft Hobbs and her husband Chris of Germantown, Tennessee; his son, Tommy Craft of Marion; his grandsons, Tyler and Connor Hobbs; a special niece, Merideth Duffel Michaelis; special nephew, Jonathan Duffel and his wife Stephanie; great-nieces, Emily and Haley Michaelis; great-nephews, Ethan and Mason Duffel all of Jonesboro; his brother, William G. Craft and family of West Memphis and his sister, Carolyn Robb and family of Marion.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 pm, Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at Gregg- Langford Bookout Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be 10:00 am Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at the Gregg- Langford Bookout Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Patty Soward officiating. Interment will follow at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family request memorial consideration be given to the Care Team Backpack Program of First United Methodist Church, 801 S. Main, Jonesboro, AR 72401 or a charity of the donor's choice.