William David Kraft
December 13, 1952 ~ July 8, 2006
Resided in:
Fairview, NC
William David Kraft, 53, of 777 Morgan Hill Road, Fairview, passed away unexpectedly Saturday July 8, 2006 at his residence.
A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, he was a son of the late Louis W. and Arline Nichols Kraft.
Mr. Kraft retired as a repairman for Bell South in 2005 with over 30 years of service. He was an active participant of several Christian walks including Mountain Ridge Journey, Walk to Emmaus and Mountain Ridge Chrysalis. He was a member of Covenant Community United Methodist Church and a veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era.
Surviving are a son, Wesley Kraft of Fairview; a daughter, Kim Smith and husband Van of Fairview; two brothers, Lou Kraft of Cobb Co., GA, and John Kraft of Abilene, TX; a sister, Kathy Smith of Indiana; and four grandchildren, Brittany Smith, Robin Smith, Derek Smith, and Ashly Kraft.
A funeral service will be held 2:00 pm Friday in the chapel at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with the Reverend Wes Sharpe officiating. Interment will follow at the Veterans Cemetery.
His family will receive friends 6:00-8:00pm Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Mountain Ridge Chrysalis, P.O. Box 1437, Asheville, NC, 28802.
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I worked with Bill in Asheville. I send the family my sincere sympathy.
Gail Blevins
retired Bellsouth
Bill was a very bright spot during my years at Bell South. We worked Camp Bluebird together. We prayed for each other’s families. We moved to Charlotte in 1994 and lost touch, but I will always be grateful for his gift of friendship and prayer.
I would like to express my sympathy to the family. Bill was a great man, I know that my oldest son ‘Tony’ thought the world of Bill. He will be greatly missed by all the people that he ever came in contact with, especially through the Chrysalis community. God Bless the family at this time of sorrow.
I first met Bill in the Prayer Chapel during a Mountain Ridge Chrysalis flight. I was very new to the Emmaus/Chrysalis family, and he welcome me in a way that I instantly felt like I had been a part of the family forever. I could truly see the love of our savior shining from his face. I will always treasure my friendship with Bill and hold a very precious place in my heart for him. He will be greatly missed.
I can’t even put into words what Bill meant to me – and the Mountain Ridge Chrysalis community. Always a shining light – always had a smile on his face. He loved the Lord and helped so many of us young people grow in our faith – through prayer and through action. Thank you , Jesus, for letting Bill be a small part of my life – a small part that had a huge impact on my daily walk with the Lord. God bless you, Bill.
I had the pleasure of working with Bill through Mountain Ridge Chrysalis and Journey. He was truly an outstanding person. He blessed everyone that he came into contact with. He will be missed but thank God that He is in Jesus’ loving arms. God Bless You All. Fly With Christ. Brian Bowman
Bill will always remain in my memory as a multitude of bright, happy smiles and a laugh that burst out like the sound of children running out of the front door on the last day of school. He will remain the example of how older children should help the younger and how an adult can excape the bondage of growing old and complacent.
We were all blessed by God to have Bill with us on loan. We return him whole to our gracious Father and look forward to hearing that laughter once again when we all dance together.
What a wonderful person. Thanks God.
There was never a time that I can remember not smiling when I saw the face of Bill Kraft. I always fully enjoyed being around him and spending time talking with him. One of the greatest memories that I have with Bill is on a Mountain Ridge Flight at ReCreation. We sat in the prayer chapel one evening, just the two of us, and talked for hours. He was a great man that loved God, and I look forward to seeing him again. I keep all who miss him in my prayers.
How deeply we loved Bill and want the family to know that we will miss him so much until we are re-united with him for eternity. We are praying that God will hold his loved ones tightly in the palm of His hand and comfort their hearts, as they walk through this valley. We celebrate Bill’s life and love today, knowing that He is at Home now with His Father and has finally seen Him face to face.
May the peace of our dear Lord cover this time with love and comfort. mark and pam
I can still hear the laughs and see the smile – and I look forward to the day we can all sit around and chuckle with Bill again. A truly warm, caring and generous person left this world a little better place.
Now he’s at the Lord’s table – and I’m excited for him.
Bill was a wonderful Christian brother and will be greatly missed. My prayers are with you all.
Bill had a great impact on so many men and boys through Chrysalis, Journeys and Emmaus. Together, he and Linda were a backbone of these communities, especially Chrysalis in the early days. My prayers are for Linda and Wesly and for those of us left behind. He is truly in Glory where there are no more tears and Joy and laughter are abundant!!!! Well Done good and faithful servant!!!!
Bill was an awsome man with many special gifts. On more than one occation I can remember him sitting down with me if I had a problem and just talking about them and then us praying about them. He always gave me Godly advise. Always a hug, and a grin. I’ll miss you Bill, I love you. But have fun in your new home.
Love and prayers.
We’ll miss Bill, and we’ll always remember him. Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones, and to the Emmaus & Chrysalis communities where this loss will be so keenly felt.
For the last 8-9 years, when I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with Bill he has been a pillar of sorts for me- a calming presence. I knew him through Chrysalis. He was in charge of the Prayer Chapel for a large amount of my involvement in my home Chrysalis community.
He was very in tune with what others were feeling. Very gentle, like I said, a very calming presence. I believe he was there the night that I came so close to losing someone very close to me. I was at Chrysalis that weekend, and went straight to the Prayer Chapel, where I just cried, and prayed and was surrounded by friends.
For a while at Chrysalis some of us, rather than sleep in the Big House, would sleep in the prayer chapel where Bill slept. We’d talk, we’d write letters, etc. The prayer chapel was SUCH a calming place to stay.
In the fall of 1999 I was the youth ALD for a Chrysalis weekend. Frustrated with the progress (or lack there of) of my walk with God, I retreated, temporarily leaving my duties, to the prayer chapel. It was here that Bill told me that when we feel the farthest away from God, it is then that He is standing closest to us, drawing us back to Him.
Bill was a funny guy. I’m sure we remember his mascot, a stuffed monkey named Bubba. Bubba was often in the Prayer Chapel with Bill. Bubba was also a comfort at times. But do you remember when he wore butterfly wings and it made one person UNcomfortable as it reminded them of one of The Wizard of Oz’s flying monkeys? 🙂
While it is comforting to know that Bill is gently resting in the Everlasting Arms, it is sad to think that I will never be able to relive those precious times in the prayer chapel. I remember Bill’s hugs, I remember Bill’s smile, and I remember how Bill was a rock for so many people. A very sweet and gentle rock.
Praying for God’s love, peace, and mercy to hold you close in this time. I remember many wonderful, mischevious and blessed times with Bill as far back as the 1980’s when I first met him out in Hayesville at Mt. Top Emmaus. I’m sorry for our earthly loss – but I believe without hesitation that he now knows peace and love in the presence of Christ.
We remember our brother in Christ, Bill, as one of the first people we met at Blue Ridge Emmaus when we moved to Asheville 11 years ago. We spent quite a few awesome times in the prayer chapel there with him as well as wonderful memories made through Chrysalis and Journey Flights. The most recent time was at the recent Emmaus gathering at Camp Tekoa where his contagious laughter and joy of the Lord on his face was so evident. How precious to know that Bill is truly ‘flying with Christ’ and will for eternity! We’ll miss you, Bill, and look forward to sharing the greatest reunion group with you ever!
We feel so blessed to have known Bill through the Mountain Ridge Chrysalis community, Bill was a great man who always kept you laughing and smiling whenever he was near. Bill will be truly missed, but we look forward to seeing him again one day. Fly With Christ!
I’ve known Bill since before his move to NC, when he first came to Southern Bell in ca. 1973. He worked with me in West Palm Beach before he moved to Fairview, and I loved him as a brother. We shared many good times and laughed and grew in our trials and tribulations of youth. He was not always pure, but learned from his mistakes, and was able to apply his learning to teach others in a way that I truly admired. Although I lost track of his daily trek through this life, I knew he was helping others, and that he was leading an exemplary life. God had blessed him with vision, and he tried his best to impart that to others, especially young people of his community. His family was blessed to have his wisdom and teaching, and will in time realise all that he gave. I love you, Bill, and will be proud to count you among my best friends in heaven.
There is nothing more wonderful than being loved by God through his servants and we and our family have been loved by God through Bill. We are so grateful to have known him here and can’t wait to share eternity with him enjoying Jesus. Bill has given us a heritage of faith and model of servanthood to follow. Our love and prayers to his family and all who loved him.
Our prayers are with you.
May God bring comfort to Bill’s family and to the Chyrsalis family. I had the honor of meeting Bill at the last Men’s Journey Flight. What a kind disciple of Christ. When he talked to you he looked you in the eye as if he was talking to your soul, you knew he had a personal relationship with Christ. What a blessing to share that weekend with him in the prayer chapel.
We will truly miss the sweet and caring way of Bill.Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
There are truly no words that can express the joy that Bill brought to our lives. Even though we didn’t see him on a daily basis, the things that Bill taught us as youth and as adults will stay with us each and every day. I rejoice in the thought that he is with our Father and look forward to the day when we get the opportunity to join him. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all. Fly With Christ.
To the family and close friends of Bill, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I was formerly Sharon Godleski in Asheville and I remember Bill from our affiliation with CWA. He was such a fine man, so nice to everyone, and always had a smile on his face. I remember Bill and Dennis G. making me laugh at the union hall. He and Dennis are probably trying to organize a union for the angels right now. May God bless you. I pray that all the happy memories of Bill will give you peace in the days ahead.
You are in our thoughts & prayers! Love, Lori Austin & Family
Wes & Kim & family:
What a very sad day when I heard the news about Bill. The memories were overflowing in how he has touched my life, as well as so many others. His legacy will forever live in our hearts with his sunny smile, warm and caring heart and his love for our Jesus. I have been so blessed to have Bill in my life. During the happy and most difficult times, Bill always had time to share the love of Christ. All I had to do was pick up the phone and say to him ‘Start praying’ and he never failed me. No questions asked. He reminds me of a Martha and Mary combined. Always a worker bee and always a listener. As Jesus said to Martha, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die’. Bill’s walk with the Lord is a shining example to all of us. The Lord worked through him with his time overseeing the prayer chapel. This was a safe, secure and peaceful area that Bill provided for the whole community. A verse that I recently read was 2 Timothy 1:10…God has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. This is the hope for all of us that God has a plan and we will be dancing with Bill in the future. I can see his beaming face standing next to Jesus and Jesus saying to Bill,’well done my good & faithful servant’. I love you guys and pray for God to hold you extra tight so you will feel his comfort and peace.
Bill,
I don’t even know what to say. I will miss our weekly if not daily phone conversations. As I have said before to you, you were and still are one of my rocks of faith. I can’t imagine Chrysalis without you. It is truer now than when I said it to you a couple of weeks ago. Everything is going to be all right. Take care brother. I love you more than words, tears, prayers, or actions could ever express. I’ll miss the trip down here that we had planned and the Big House in September. We would have had a lot of fun. You will NEVER be forgotten and I will ALWAYS reserve a spot for you where ever I go. Keep them laughing in Heaven. I love ya Bro.
Words cannot express the sadness felt for the loss of Bill—affectionately known as A.L.F. We’ll be praying for the Kraft family and the Chrysalis/Journeys community. Bill was an instrumental part of my life, from the time I was a baby. I am thankful for the wisdom and the love he has given me for many many years. I am thankful for the time God gave us to spend with Bill while he was here on Earth. We love you and will miss you greatly A.L.F.
Love, Kelly, T.Mox, Kenneth and Abigail
To Bill’s Family,
What an awesome man! So kind and wondeful in every way. We are praying for you and trusting in the God who brings comfort to those who are in pain. Our prayers are with you all!!! The Speier’s
I want to express my sorrow to Bill’s family. Bill was a wonderful man who’s influence shall continue on in our lives. Although I didn’t not get to spend a lot of time with him, what time I did spend was precious. He will be missed by those who knew him and those who didn’t have the opportunity, missed a blessing.
Having seen Bill, and Linda, at so many Emmaus week-ends over the last 20+ years, this does not seem real. The world is a much better place because of Bill’s presence. Thanks be to God for allowing us to know Bill. Our love and prayers are with you, Linda.
Wes,
I’m so sorry for the loss of your father. I know what you are going through-I lost my father two years ago. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know.
One never knows what to say during these times, so since Sunday, when I’ve thought of Bill and your loss, I have created a giant, silent place in my heart. This place is large enough that the lion of grief and lamb of joy can lie down together, peacefully.
We are praying for you in this time of loss, that you will have the peace that comes from knowing that the one we are longing for is in the place we long for.
There are no words that can express how much Bill meant to both of us. We remember times of going to the prayer chapel at Chrysalis just to talk to Bill because he would brighten your day. I cannot count the number of times I went to Bill when something was troubling…he never gave advice or told me what to do, but he’d pull out his Bible and tell me what the Lord said. He gave the best hugs…I always loved coming to him in the Candlelight line. We are happy that Bill is with the Lord, but he will be fiercely missed…we’re praying for all of you.
We have such fond memories of Bill. He and Linda faithfully served the youth of Covenant Community. Our boys (now men)were blessed to have them in their lives. Wes and Kim, we are praying for you as you grief the loss of your Dad. Thanks for sharing him with us. May the loving arms of Jesus enfold you during this difficult time. We love you!
BILL WAS A GREAT MAN, HE WAS LIKE A FATHER TO ME AND MY SISTER (KELLY), I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE FAMILY SINCE I WAS 8 YEARS OLD. HE WILL BE REALLY MISSED. LOVE SAM (SAMMY-KINS) WAS HIS NICKNAME FOR ME
To Bill’s Family, I cannot imagine the pain you are going thru as it has only been a short time since the loss of his Mother. Bill was a great friend, fellow employee, and union buddy from the time he arrived in Asheville from WPB. I nick-named him Fred when he wore overalls all the time years ago while he worked on the Frame at BellSouth. I haved remained friends with him til the end and will most certainly miss him.
We are sorry to hear of Bill’s death. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
The Sam Nesbitt family
As we sit to write this we are filled with such sadness at the loss of such a wonderful man. We both have such fond memories of Bill. He will be missed here on earth but his spirit will live on in the many Chrysalis events and especially in the prayer chapel, where we all remember him best. It won’t be the same without him. Our prayers are with his entire family. May The Great Comforter wrap his arms around you during this time and in the days to come.
Bill was a great ‘Bubba 2’
WE NEW BILL FROM SAT BOWLING AND REALLY MISS HIM. BILL ALWAYS HAS A SMILE TO SHARE OR A KIND WORD AND WE ARE BETTER PEOPLE TO HAVE KNOWN HIM. HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM AND BY ALL HE TOUCHED. FLY WITH THE ANGELS BILL!
JEFF/DEB
JACKSON
BLACK MNT,NC