Richard Harry Crayton

Visitation for Richard "Dick" Harry Crayton, 69, of Kankakee, will be from 2-8 p.m. today at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home in West Kankakee, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday. Rev. Curt Boyer will officiate.Military rites will be held after the service by Aroma Park F-Troop.Cremation rites will be accorded by Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Crematory, West Kankakee.Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.Mr. Crayton died Thursday (March 17, 2005) at Riverside Medical Center.He was born Nov. 7, 1935 in Metropolis, the son of Harrington Paul and Lottie Hinners Crayton. His parents are deceased.Surviving are his wife, the former Betty Bartruff Wippel of Kankakee, whom he married Dec. 27, 1987 at the Riverside Hospital Chapel; one stepson, David Bartruff of Iowa; three step daughters, Norma and Hisao Fukuda of Tokyo, Japan, Leslie and Mike Olson of Limestone, and Karen Bartruff of Kankakee; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandsons; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Sondra and Jack Mizell, Katheryn and Carl Medley, all of Metropolis, Phyllis and Russell Keller of Kankakee; one half brother, Clarence and Mary Crayton of Compton; one half sister, Paula Carlock of Sheboygan, Wis.; and numerous nieces and nephews.Mr. Crayton was an electrician for Heinz, Pet Food Division in Kankakee since 1986; an instrument technician for District Heating and Development Co. in St. Paul, Minn., from 1983-1985; a communication and electronic technician for John Deere Product Engineering in Cedar Falls, Iowa, from 1980-1983; an electrician for John Deere Tractor Works in St. Paul., Minn., from 1978-1980; and maintenance engineer for Riverside Medical Center from 1977-1978.He was retired from Kankakee State Hospital after 18 1/2 years working in the warehouse.He worked part-time and evenings on CB radios for Bob Troop.Mr. Crayton served during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Marines, was a member of the Aroma Park American Legion and the NARTE (National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers).He was of the Lutheran faith.He received a diploma in Cardiac Monitoring Equipment from Loyola University in 1978; an associate degree in applied science from Kankakee Community College in 1976; an electronic technician certificate from National Electronic Association; completed Paragon Trainer PLC at Allen-Bradley in 1995; received a certificate for Smartscreen Operator from Total Control Products in 1993; a Programmable Industrial Computer Maintenance certificate from Giddings & Lewis Electronics in 1991; and the status of Certified Technician, Class 1, Land Mobile from the National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers Inc.

Richard Harry Crayton

November 7, 1938 - March 14, 2005