David Winston Croft, Sr., M.D., 90, of Bainbridge Island, WA passed away on August 11, 2019 with Gay, his wife of 46 years, at his side.
Born December 12, 1928, in Huntingdon, PA., he was the son of the late Michael H. and Mary (Garland) Croft. His first marriage was to Alice (Dysart) Dunkle. His second marriage was to Gay (Larmon) Croft who survives at their home on Bainbridge Island, WA. He was the father of 8 children, 14 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.
Dr. Croft was a 1946 graduate of Huntingdon High School, a 1950 graduate of Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA., and a 1954 graduate of Jefferson Medical School, Philadelphia, PA. At Juniata College he was a two-way football player; he started all four years as the team’s center and linebacker. He was the first Juniata football player selected as an AP Little All American when he received Honorable Mention recognition in 1948 and again in 1949. This made him the first two-time Little All American in the history of the football program. His football coach, Bill Smoltz, called him “the best single-wing center he had ever seen.” David was inducted in to the Juniata College Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
David enlisted in the U.S. Airforce in 1956 and attained the rank of Major. After his honorable discharge in 1960 he opened a private medical office in Huntingdon and was a member of the J.C. Blair staff until 1970. He moved to California in 1971 and became a partner in the Anderson, Bennell, and Croft Clinic; after leaving that practice, he worked part-time for the city of Los Angeles and part-time doing physical exams for the stars, such as Esther Williams and George Carlin. For several years David and Gay would board a cruise ship on which he served as the ship doctor.
David and Gay moved to Bainbridge Island, September 11, 2001 to be closer to his sister’s family (Jane Croft Miller) and enjoy the cooler weather. He held court regularly at Doc’s Restaurant on Friday nights telling stories and entertaining patrons. David loved family gatherings, a good steak and dry martini, and telling jokes.
Dr. Croft enjoyed watching the LA Lakers, the Seattle Seahawks, and Penn State football. He was an avid golfer for many years, a skilled bridge player, and loved doing crossword puzzles with his siblings. He enjoyed biking with his brother Richard and visiting family around the country. We miss him.
In lieu of flowers, tell a stranger a joke.
www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com
