Robert (Bob) Edward Craig, Sr

Robert E. "Bob" Craig, Sr., age 87, of Abingdon, VA, died November 9, 2026.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Floyd William and Mildred Grook Craig of Norfolk, VA, and his brother Floyd William Craig, Jr. of Chattanooga, TN. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Elizabeth Beamer Craig, son Robert E. Craig, Jr. (Helina) and granddaughter Ava Craig of Fairfax, VA; son Brian C. Craig (Carlos) of Blacksburg, VA; daughter Dr. Allison V. Craig (Nicole) of Albany, NY; brother-in-law Robert G. Beamer (Martha) of Greeneville, TN; niece Laura Mullinax and nephews Bill Craig, Clayton Beamer, Phillip Beamer and Andrew Beamer; and many dear friends and associates.

A native of Norfolk, VA, Bob lived in Abingdon, VA since 1978. After graduating from Norview High School in Norfolk, VA in 1958, he worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C. as a fingerprint technician. In 1961, he was transferred to the Norfolk field office as a security clerk. If pressed, Bob would occasionally share stories of his encounters with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (or, more to the point, trying to avoid Director Hoover); being surprised one morning by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who asked him to give a tour of the FBI Headquarters Building to Mr. Kennedy's young family; and being on duty when President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed. Bob briefly left the FBI in 1964 to attend Virginia Tech, graduating with a Business Administration degree in 1966, and later earning an MA in Education from ETSU. During the summers of 1963 and 1964, he was a police patrolman with the VA Beach Police Department.

While working as a resident advisor for the housing office at VT in the summer of 1966, Bob met Elizabeth Ann Beamer of Blacksburg, VA, then a student at UNC-Greensboro, who was also working for the summer in the housing office. They met in Burruss Hall and were married in 1968.

Bob returned to the FBI in 1967 as a Special Agent (investigator). After training at Quantico and Washington, D.C. (there was no fulltime FBI Academy in those days), he was assigned to the Indianapolis, IN field office. Later assignments took him and his wife and growing family to resident offices in Paterson and Parsippany, NJ and finally to Bristol, VA. While assigned to Bristol, due to his additional duties as an instructor, the FBI provided him a scholarship to attend ETSU where he received an MA in Education in 1981. He also had the honor to serve as a counselor to the 129th and 157th sessions of the FBI National Academy for police officers at Quantico, VA before retiring in 1989 with 27 total years of service.

After retiring from the FBI, Bob formed a private investigation business which he operated for 23 years, conducting investigations nationwide for law firms, insurance companies, and corporations. He was a life member of the FBI Agents Association and Society of Former Agents of the FBI. He always enjoyed hosting the X-Agents of the Blue Ridge Chapter in Abingdon for dinner at the Martha Washington Inn and a play at the Barter Theatre. Bob was instrumental in having a memorial plaque erected in Abingdon, VA in memory and honor of FBI Special Agent Hubert J. Treacy, Jr., who was killed in the line of duty by a fugitive on March 13,1942 at the site of the current Post Office.

Bob was a long-time member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Abingdon. He especially enjoyed helping organize and support the Air and Car show that the Kiwanis Club sponsored for many years.

Bob was an avid VA Tech football fan, following the Hokies to all of their home games, many of the away games, and most Bowl games during the tenure of Frank Beamer (Elizabeth's cousin) as head coach. His son Robert was the drum major of the Marching Virginians while in college there. It was an exciting time.

In retirement, Bob enjoyed traveling with his wife Elizabeth and children to over 40 countries, hiking with buddies in Europe, taking on numerous wood-working and stained-glass projects, riding bikes on the Creeper Trail, and sailing on the South Holston Lake with his good friend Richard Smith when he couldn't make it to open water. He always loved being on the water and was an avid sailor. He attended and graduated from Captain's school in Port Saint Lucie, FL, routinely navigated the Intracoastal Waterway along the Atlantic Coast, and particularly enjoyed serving as a crewmember on the replica H.M. Bark Endeavor tall sailing ship in the summer of 1998 along with his brother, Floyd. Bon Voyage!

Bob's family would like to express our gratitude to all of his caregivers who have supported him as he fought cancer in the last few years, to include Dr. Jennifer Jonkers, The Ballad Cancer Center, Abingdon, VA, and the wonderfully supportive personnel at Elite Hospice.

According to Bob's wishes, there will be no visitation or service. His ashes will be interred at the Woodlawn Church Cemetery in Woodlawn, VA.

The family of Robert E. "Bob" Craig, Sr., is being cared for by Farris Funeral and Cremation Service, Main Street Chapel, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 276-623-2700.