Harold Wright “Doby” Kraft, Jr.

Harold Wright “Doby” Kraft, Jr., 80, died Tuesday, February 13, 2007 after a short illness.

He was born in Savannah to the late Harold W. Kraft, Sr. and Anna Kendig Kraft. In school he served as Cadet Colonel of the ROTC and graduated as Valedictorian of Savannah High School in 1944. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving on the carrier USS Tarawa during World War II.

Attending Georgia Tech, he was active in the Sigma Chi Fraternity, Student Council, ODK honor society and the Georgia Tech Glee Club. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1950 and later returned to earn a Master of Science in Industrial Management.

He married Jane Brooks in November 1950. They celebrated almost 49 years of marriage before her death in 1999.

When he retired from Savannah Electric in 1991 as Vice President Power Supply & System Operation, the company honored him by renaming the Port Wentworth power station Plant Kraft.

He served as President of the Savannah Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter, and later began lifelong associations with the professional engineering associations GSPE and IEEE, several non-profit boards and the Kiwanis Club of Savannah.

Doby was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He served many years as church treasurer at First Presbyterian Church of Savannah and was an active member of the choir.

He is survived by his three children and their families:
Harold Wright Kraft, III Hal, his wife Kim, and their children Kyle, Ashlee and Emily Savannah
John Burns Kraft, his wife Toni, and their two children Sarah and Millie Acworth
And Mary Elizabeth Kraft and Dan Triandiflou Atlanta

Visitation: 5 – 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 15, Fox and Weeks Hodgson Chapel.
Funeral: Friday, Feb. 16, 11 a.m., First Presbyterian Church on Washington Ave. in Savannah, followed by a graveside service at Bonaventure Cemetery, Greenwich Section.

Remembrances may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, the Savannah Kiwanis Memorial Education Fund or favorite charity.