DOUGLAS CROFT

SPENCERVILLE — Douglas J. "Jay" Croft, 71, of Spencervlle, passed away peacefully with his family at his side in the Roselawn Manor in Spencerville at 1:40 PM Sunday, July 16, 2017.

He was born September 7, 1945 in Lima, a son of Forrest and Ethel Marie Davenport Croft, who are deceased. On November 9, 1991 he married Janice Colleen Crawford Evans, who survives, along with five children; Cindi Croft of Spencerville; Angela Croft of Lima; Christina (Rafael) Croft of Waynesfield; Douglas Jay Croft II of Spencerville and Tara (Alex) Robertson of Lima; 16 grand and 5 step-grandchildren; 11 great grand and 6 step great grandchildren; one step-great great grandchild and his sister; Ruth Ann Stewart of Lima and his sister-in-law; Sue Croft of Spencerville.

Jay was preceded in death by four step-children; Richard Evans, Tim Evans, Sherilyn Evans and Jeff Evans and three siblings; Robert Croft, Bonnie Savidge Whyman and Theodore "Ted" Croft.

He was a graduate of Spencerville High School and went on to serve in the Army during the Vietnam War. While serving in Viet Nam he was awarded a meritorius service badge for protecting secret documents. In order to protect these documents he was locked in a secret cage surrounded by boxes of C 4 explosives. His last job was that if overrun, he was to blow up the documents he was guarding so they would not go into enemy hands. He had owned and operated the Croft Insurance Agency in Spencerville.

His memberships are the Bowersock Bros. VFW Post 6772, Harry J. Reynolds American Legion Post 191 and the Odd Fellows Lodge # 311 , all of Spencerville. He loved being with his family, fishing and his flowers and gardening.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Wednesday in the Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home in Spencerville, where friends may call from 2/4 and 6/8 PM Tuesday and after 9 AM Wednesday.

Burial will follow in the Spencerville Cemetery, where the Army Honor Guard and VFW and American Legion will conduct military rites. Condolences may be sent to; tbayliff@woh.rr.com