Robert Edward Craven, 80, of Springfield, IL died at 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born on August 8, 1930 in Spring Valley, IL to the late Thomas and Gertrude Yearsley Craven. He married Virginia Louise Muzzarelli in 1952.

Robert is survived by his wife, Virginia; six sons, Jim (Sally) Craven of Springfield, Tom (Denise) Craven of Springfield, Mike (Becky) Craven of Normal, Bill (Brenda) Craven of Springfield, Pat (Jodi) Craven of Princeton, IN and Tim (Cris) Craven of New Berlin; 16 grandchildren and one niece, Carol Ann (Rick) Barley of Richmond, TX.

Mr. Craven was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Chatham, the Sangamon County Interveterans Burial Detail and was an avid Notre Dame fan. He served in the Army as a First Lieutenant. Robert retired as an engineer from the State of Illinois Highway Department after 35 years of service. He then became the Sangamon County Highway Commissioner, a position he held for six years. He was a Notre Dame graduate.

Visitation: 4-6 p.m., Sunday, November 21, 2010 at Staab Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 4 p.m.
Lie-in-State: 9:30-10:30 a.m., Monday, November 22, 2010 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Chatham.

Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 22, 2010 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Chatham with Father George Morelock, officiating.

Interment ceremonies will be held at Camp Butler National Cemetery with the Sangamon County Interveterans Burial Detail conducting Military Honors.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Sangamon County Interveterans Burial Detail, C/O Richard Sorensen, 2108 Palo Alto Dr., Springfield, IL 62711.