In memoriam: poultry scientist W. Windsor Cravens
W. Windsor Cravens died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 at the age of 93. Cravens received his PhD in Poultry Science from UW in 1940 and was a professor of poultry science for 13 years, after which he left for private industry. Milt Sunde was one of his graduate students. Following is a copy of his obituary.
W. WINDSOR CRAVENS, 93, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008. Born Oct. 24, 1914 on a farm near Utica, Ky., he was the son of M. Eugene and Mary Ball Cravens. He graduated from Daviss County High School, Owensboro, Ky. He married Isabel Karrasch of Milwaukee, Wis. on Sept. 2, 1939. He earned a BS in Agriculture from the University of Kentucky in 1935, a MS in Animal Chemistry and Nutrition at Iowa State University in 1940, and PhD in Biochemistry and Poultry Nutrition from the University of Wisconsin in 1940 and them spent about thirteen years there as a professor in the College of Agriculture, leaving in 1953 to become Director of Feed Research for Central Soya Company, Decatur, assuming responsibility for all feed and nutrition research and technical services for the feed division. In 1968, he moved to Fort Wayne as vice president responsible for all corporate research. He retired from Central Soya in 1978. He published many scientific and technological papers and was a member of many professional societies, including the American Chemical Society, Poultry Science Association and American Institute of Nutrition. He was chairman and life member of the Nutrition Council of American Feed Manufacturers Association and served on the Soybean Research Council 1953 to 1968. He was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church, Downtown Kiwanis, and former member of the Board of Trustees of Indiana Institute of Technology. He was past president of the Pine Valley Country Club where he was an avid golfer. Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Isabel; sons, Thomas E. (Christine) of LaVern, Calif., Edward B. (April) of Naalehu, Hawaii and John W. (Kim) of Loveland, Colo.: daughter, Dr. Eileen Cravens (Dr. Dana Reihman) of Richmond, Ind.; and grandchildren, Douglas and Andrew McCaskill, Allison Wilkerson, Amanda and Michael Cravens and Katie, Annie and Stephanie Reihman. He was preceded in death by daughter, Cynthia McCaskill; and an infant son. Memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, at Plymouth Congregational Church, 501 West Berry St., with a reception following. Calling is from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, at the church. Arrangements by D.O. McComb & Sons Maplewood Park Funeral Home, 4017 Maplecrest Road. Memorials to Plymouth Congregational Church of Fort Wayne or University of Wisconsin Foundation – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (checks made to UW Foundation-CALS Forward Fund), address: UW Foundation, US Bank Lockbox, PO Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807.