OXFORD — Russell Junior Craven, 80, went to be with his Lord on Nov. 30 at Sumner Regional Medical Center. Russell “Junior” was born on a farm in Slate Valley on July 20, 1934 to Russell and Ora Mae Craven. Junior attended high school in Oxford. He worked at various oil rigs. He started his trucking career driving for A.V. Davis Van Lines. He retired with United Van Lines after 37 years of cross country driving. He later went to work for Price Trucking in Winfield. He was a member of Oxford First Baptist Church.
He married Anabell Wilson in 1957, in Great Bend. They later divorced. From that marriage they had three children. He married his late wife Billie in 1968 and raised her son. He then married Etta Gonzales in 2001. They later divorced. Etta remained his companion for several years.
He is survived by his children, daughter Tracy Zahnter and her husband Gordon of Great Bend; his sons, Donald Craven of San Antonio, Texas, Russell Wayne Craven and wife Nancy of Sterling, Joe DeLozier and wife Elisha of Winfield; sister Belva Parson and husband Keith of Oxford; sister in law Patsy Craven of Dodge City; foster brother David Ward of Cortez, Colo.; 10 grandchildren: Rachelle, Russell Merlin, David, Lisa, Deric, Angela, Kaci, Corey,  Joseph, and Jed; 18 great-grandchildren; niece Sarah Mercer and husband Chad of Oxford; nephews Brian “Bubba” Parson of Oxford, Todd Parson and wife Miranda of Oxford; two great nephews and one great niece.  He is preceded in death by his parents Russell and Ora Mae Craven, a brother James Craven and wife Billie Craven.
Funeral Services will be Thursday Dec. 4, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Oxford. Visitation will be Wednesday Dec. 3, from 1-8 p.m. with family being present from 6-8 p.m. at the Shelley Family Funeral Home at Oxford. A memorial has been established with First Baptist Church in Oxford for the capital improvement fund.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Shelley Family Funeral Home **
104 N. Sumner
Oxford, KS 67119
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Dec. 2, 2014