Thomas M. Crafton
September 25, 1952 – April 28, 2020
Thermcraft president and CEO Thomas Morris Crafton, 67, of Winston-Salem, N.C. passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2020. He was a successful businessman and was greatly admired by his colleagues.
Crafton was educated at Trinity High School in Washington, Penn.; West Virginia University; and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. In 1978, Crafton and his wife, Nancy, moved to Winston-Salem so Crafton could join his parents, Morris L. Crafton and Clara Martin Crafton, working at Thermcraft, Inc., which was founded by his parents in 1971.
Crafton became president and CEO of Thermcraft, Inc. and expanded the company internationally. He gave presentations about small businesses in Washington, D.C., and has relationships with companies throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Crafton was passionate about travel and he loved to travel the world, visit with customers, and talk about the many places he had been and things he had seen. Crafton had a witty sense of humor and was always quick with a comeback. He loved fast cars, guns, music, guitars, and spending time at Lake Norman. But most of all, he loved his family.
As successful as Crafton was, his daughters and grandchildren were his greatest accomplishments. His strong will and determination can be seen in each of his grandchildren and he thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow. He loved life and lived it to the fullest.
Crafton was not a large man physically, but he cast a huge shadow personally and professionally. During his daily presence at Thermcraft, Crafton mentored, counseled, and advised his employees, many of whom he considered his friends. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Crafton was preceded in death by his father, Morris L. Crafton, and his mother, Clara Martin Crafton. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Crafton, and his three daughters and their families, as well as one sister and her family. The family would like to express their gratitude for the compassionate care given by Dr. Powell and the nurses on 6CC at Wake Forest Baptist Health. A celebration of life will be held at a later date TBD. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina at 3655 Reed St. Winston-Salem, NC 27107.