Larry Crater

Larry James Crater passed away on June 29, 2022, after a long fight with pancreatic cancer.  He was born October 30, 1938, to George Fred Crater and Ola Johnson Crater.  His mother died when he was five years old, and he was raised by his father and stepmother Cleo Trivette Crater.  He graduated from West Yadkin School and went to work at Western Electric.  It was there that he met his wife, Sylvia Smith.  They were married for 62 years.  He graduated from Forsyth Tech with a degree in Electronics Engineering and went to work at RJR, retiring from the Engineering department.  He spent many happy days gardening at his farm in Hamptonville.  He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren at his farm and at the beach.  He was a lover of nature and all animals.  He was devoted to Cosmo, a pit bull he rescued as a stray, and lovingly cared for him as long as his health allowed. He was preceded in death by two stepsisters, Madeline Cox, and Marie Westmoreland.  Surviving are his loving wife Sylvia, daughter Tonya Canipe (Victor), son Jeffrey Crater (Peggy), two grandchildren Emily Patterson (Spencer) and Elizabeth Pfaff (William), great-granddaughter Emma, two dear sisters, Betty Masten of Winston-Salem and Linda Campbell of Mooresville, brother-in-law Ronnie Rothrock, as well as nieces, nephews, and many cousins.  The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 3, 2022 from 2 to 4 pm at Hayworth-Miller on Silas Creek Parkway.  The family would like to thank Kate B. Reynolds Hospice for their great generosity and loving care during Larry’s stay.  In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Forsyth Humane Society or Kate B. Reynolds Hospice.