Rev. Craig A Pillow

Rev. Craig A Pillow age 68, former pastor of the Elkton United Methodist Church died peacefully Saturday evening, January 7, after a long battle with cancer.

He was born October 8, 1948 in Flint to the late Carroll and Lucille (Kruszka) Pillow, grew up in Flint and graduated from Holy Redeemer Catholic High School in 1966.

Craig continued studies at Central Michigan, where he played on the football team for his freshman year. After his sophomore year, he transferred to U of M and then to the University of Toledo where he received his Bachelor’s degree.

On August 9, 1980, he was united in marriage to Lorraine Butler at the Morenci United Methodist Church, making their home in Morenci.

Craig worked in various restaurants in Michigan and Ohio as a chef/cook for several years before receiving the call to the ministry. He received his masters in divinity at Methodist Theological School of Ohio in Delaware, Ohio. He received his first charge in 1994 at the Clayton/Rollin Center United Methodist Churches, serving there for 15 years. In 2009, he was transferred to Elkton, where he served as pastor until his health forced him to step down from the pulpit.

He was an ordained elder of the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Lorraine; two sons, Wesley Pillow of Jackson and Vance (fiancée, Jaime Henning) Pillow of Parma; three sisters, Jeraine Thompson of Saline, Doreen Romzek of Davison, and Donna (Ed) Collins of Fenton; sister-in-law, Sara Pillow of Eureka; his mother-in-law, Alice Butler of Novi; in-laws, Ralph (Elizabeth) Butler of Dayton, OH, Barbara (Jack) Lansing of Lansing, Arthur (Carolyn) Butler of Plymouth, Beverly (Glenn) Davis of Hawaii, Brinton (Rosalyn) Butler of Commerce Twp and George (Teri) Butler of Milliani, HI, several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Carroll and Lucille Pillow, his brother, Robert Pillow; brothers-in-law, Robert Thompson, Robert Romzek, and Arthur “Fred” Draper, and father-in-law, Ralph O. Butler III.

Funeral services will be conducted, 2:00 PM Friday, January 13, at the Elkton United Methodist Church. Rev. Elizabeth Hill, District Superintendent will officiate.  Burial will be at11:00 a.m. at North Dover Cemetery, near Clayton. Rev. Robert Dister will officiate there.

Friends may call at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton from 2 to 8 PM Thursday and at the church after 1:00 PM Friday.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Elkton United Methodist Church, Clayton/Rollin Center United Methodist Church or the donor’s choice.