He was the son of the late Nelson L. and Ada E. (Cranson) Crafts of Northampton and Avon Park, Fla. He leaves a brother, Bruce (Connie) of South Carolina, and was predeceased by his brother Nelson.

Bob is survived by his wife, Sylvia Jean (Shea) Crafts and her brother, David, a loving friend through the years.

He also leaves three daughters and their families, Sandi (Irl) Brown, of Easthampton, and her children, Shannon, George and Sean Hoye; Lori (Tim) Speer of Easthampton and her children, Alex Malanowski and Kaela Malanowski; and Karin (Gary) Conte of Greenfield and their children, Brenden (Sarah) Conte, Joshua (Lauren) Purinton, and Gianna Rose Conte.

Bob leaves his nieces, Dawn Marie Hyatt, of South Carolina, and Jodi Flaherty and Crystal Rivera, both of Iowa. Crystal's daughter, Lola, was a joy to Bob and he had one last special visit before she moved to Iowa.

Bob attended local schools before serving in the Army. He retired from Avery Dennison, formerly National Blank Book, in 1994 and was self-employed until 2007.

He had many special sawdust and bark mulch customers, who all loved to see him come driving up with his rottweiller navigator, Dallas. Dallas died in January, joining a large crowd of pets who shared part of their lives with Bob and are waiting for him, hoping he brings cookies.

Bob had a special relationship with Sylvia's parents, and after losing Bud in 1997, he spent many months helping Dot find a place to live and being her chauffeur.

The year 2003 was a difficult year, when Dot died and two months later his daughters lost their beloved maternal grandmother, a woman whose strength Bob always admired. He enjoyed hearing about Rose's trips and what she was up to, and they probably shared a secret cigarette break together now and then when they ran into each other at different events.

In 2002, Bob moved to Chesterfield to be near the woods again. He enjoyed the peace and solitude and watching the local wildlife.

He became increasingly reclusive and his favorite words, when asked to go somewhere or do something, were, "You go ahead, I'll cheer you on." This time he went ahead, and the family is left trying to cheer him on.

Bob's funeral will be Wednesday, at 10 a.m., at the Ahearn Funeral Home, 783 Bridge Road, Northampton.

Burial with military honors will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery in Florence. Calling hours are Tuesday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Highland Valley Ambulance Service, 56 Main St., Goshen, MA 01032, or to the VNA/Hospice of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Box 329, Northampton, MA 01061.