Bill Loren Craven was born July 1, 1934 in Pocatello, Idaho. He was the third child of Oda Raymond (O.R.) and Mildred (Toyer) Craven.
He attended Washington Elementary, Franklin Junior High and graduated from Pocatello High School in 1952.
He served in the military from the fall of 1952 until his honorable discharge in 1955. He served during the Korean Conflict and often said he was lucky because he was serving in Germany at 7th Army Headquarters where he worked as a Chaplin’s Assistant.
He married Charlyne Hale on July 13, 1957. They resided in Oxnard, California, where she taught school and Bill attended Ventura Junior College. Their eldest daughter Lauren (Lori) was born there. After Bill received his Associates degree, the family moved to Mesa, Arizona. Charlyne continued to teach elementary school, while Bill attended Arizona State University. He graduated summa cum laude in Transportation. His second daughter, Jill was born there.
After graduation, in 1961, the family moved back to Pocatello, where Bill took over his father’s business, Craven Warehouse. Bill, and later with his younger brother, Jerry (Kayo) Craven ran the business until 1973, when they sold it. Their third child, Matt was born there. Bill and Kayo purchased the Allied Van Lines Franchise, Roche Moving and Storage in Pocatello and Idaho Falls from their cousin, Roger Roche in 1971. They sold the Allied business in 1976. Together they also purchased and operated 40 Winks Waterbeds in Pocatello and Soda Springs. They sold the stores in 1980.
For many years Bill and Charlyne collected antiques, and ran several different Antique stores in Pocatello. They also did many estate sales all around Southern Idaho.
Bill and Charlyne also loved and followed Idaho State University Athletics. They were very active members of the ISU Booster Club. Besides attending all the home games, they traveled to a majority of the out of town games played by the football, basketball and wrestling teams. Even their Holidays were shared. When football and basketball players couldn’t go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve dinners, there was always plenty of room at the Craven’s table.
Bill and Charlyne finally, fully retired and moved to Island Park, Idaho in 1994, where they enjoyed the great outdoors; fishing, hunting, berry-picking, and snowmobiling.
In 2003 they moved to Providence, Utah, where they remained until 2018, when they moved to Helena, Montana.
Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years, his three children, Lori (Greg) Cano, Jill Wilke, and Matt (Ali) Craven. Five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren (with one more on the way), his brother, Jerry (Kayo) Craven, sister-in-law, Barbara Gledhill, brother-in-law, Robert Cowan, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the VA services of Fort Harrison and Frontier Hospice of Helena, Montana for all their wonderful attentive care.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Bill’s name to the Bengal Athletics Boosters, Attn: Donna Hayes at hayesdonn@isu.edu Private family services will take place at a later date. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Bill.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Curt Toyer says
Bill was a wonderful guy. Fun, loud, kind and full of energy. As a kid, I loved visiting Pocatello to see all my relatives and going to Bill and Char’s was always a treat. Bill always made time to find out about others and had a way to make you feel special. He loved his family and his extended family and probably has more knowledge of the extended family than anyone of us. I haven’t been fortunate to spend much time with Bill and Char over the many years, but they hold a very special spot in my heart. A couple of years ago my hubby and I visited them and the girls (ok, they’re younger than me so I think of them as girls…no offense) in Logan, UT. I hadn’t seen Bill and Char since probably late 60’s. The day was one Tom and I will never forget. It cemented what I remembered about how wonderful these two people are. Bill and I had time to really talk about the family and he had so many great stories. We did get the opportunity to speak a few times by phone since then, but we’re both kind of deaf and it wasn’t always easy. LOL. One thing that Lori and Jill had told me previously was Bill’s use of the phrase “God damn Son of a Bitch” I believe it was. I believe it was confirmed on our trip and if anyone could turn a phrase like that into something heart warming it was Bill. My heart is sad and my thoughts go out to Char, Lori, Greg, their family, Jill and Jake, and Matt and his wife, who we’ve yet to meet but hope to someday. Love to all.
Heidi Bogert says
Bill and Char are the people who helped me so much during my junior year of High School. Their kindness and positive outlook I still carry in my heart.
So sorry for your loss Char, Lori and Greg, Jill, Matt and families.
Eddie L McGill says
Mr and Mrs Craven and their children always made me feel like family. Though I was along way from home I remember shrimp fries at their home with Lori and Jill and other members of the ISU football team. They were true Bengal mom and pops to us players. God bless and receive Bill Craven to rest. Comfort the Craven family at this difficult time. I was blessed to know him. I too shall miss him🙏🏿❤️
Jill wilke says
My dad. What can I say, he was the best. He was kind and would give you the shirt off his back.
He and I used to play softball in the alley, he made “going to the Dumps” an adventure. His life was filled with love for his family and friends. As my cousin Curt said, his favorite saying was, “God Damned Son of a Bitch”. He used it often.
As kids we grew up camping and fishing in Idaho. I still love to go fishing. He taught us to respect nature and love the mountains and being outdoors.
He worked hard but played hard too. One Christmas most of the Idaho State Basketball team came over for dinner. So
many athletes and their wives showed up that my sister, Lori, and I had to go get a hamburger for dinner.
He put up with exchange students from Norway, and house guests that stayed much longer than expected.
I could keep going on and on.
Just want to say Love You Dad❤️🙏
You will always be remembered as the best dad to Everyone
Lisa Spomer, Paula Gledhill says
As sad as we are at his passing, we remember Bill as an AWESOME Uncle! Our family was very blessed with a wonderful man who loved Friends, Family and Fun! From summers in Idaho as youngsters with our cousins to college in a small Idaho town where Bill and Char were always there for us, Uncle Bill left us with a treasure trove of beloved and happy memories. The stories are endless and we still laugh about our crazy Uncle Bill putting up with all of us crazy girls! We loved him so much and will miss him but know he is home safe and finally pain free. Our love and prayers are with all of the Craven family😢🥰
Sue Kime says
I remember Uncle Bill building a huge snow fort with Kayo and their buddies one year down on South 4th! My Mom their big sister said hey snowball fight at Grandma Cravens!! We lived a block and a half away at that time!. They let us get inside the fort for safety I thought it was at least 10 feet high but it was probably closer to 5 or 6!! Loved their energy. They made us feel special with their friends!! Good times at picnics too!!
Dixie christensn says
Think about all the antique activities we shared over the years. My love and prayer to you Char and all your family.
Shane Gledhill and family says
So sad to hear of the passing of Uncle Bill. So many great memories of our interactions over the years. Many of my summers as a kid were spent in Idaho, and that always started with a stay at the Craven place in Pocatello. Picnics with the entire family at Scout Mountain, fishing for “golden” trout at the Rowland Dairy, stalking trout on the Big Lost, and family gatherings in IP. His vibrance was contagious and his candor seldom seen today. He always had a great story to tell. My kids still talk about stopping at the Craven house in Providence and the fun that they had getting to know Charlene and Bill.
One of my favorite memories of Uncle Bill was as a kid when I was staying at their house in Pocatello. I asked Uncle Bill about the baby grand piano in the front room of their home that no one seemed to play. Without saying a word, he sat down at the piano and played from memory a wonderful piece of classical music. When he finished playing, he gave me a smile and walked into the other room. To say I was stunned would be an understatement. I think I stood there for about 5 minutes with my mouth open. I had no idea that my Uncle had that talent.
I will miss his good humor and his stories. Thoughts and Prayers to the whole Craven clan.
Jennifer and Jeff Rhoads says
We met Bill and Charlyne at their son Matt’s (and Ali) house in Salt Lake and were blessed to have shared many raucous and hilarious evenings listening to Bill tell his stories. Bill was that rare man — full of both heart and humor, and we will miss him terribly. Our world is a little less special today having lost Bill from it.