Thomas Morris Crafton, president and CEO of Thermcraft Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C., passed away April 28, 2020, following a battle with leukemia. He was 67.

He was educated at Trinity High School in Washington, Pa.; West Virginia University and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. In 1978, he joined industrial ovens and furnaces maker Thermcraft Inc., a company founded by his parents, Morris L. Crafton and Clara Martin Crafton, in 1971.

Throughout his career at Thermcraft Inc., Tom was a successful businessman and was greatly admired by his colleagues. After becoming president and CEO of the company, Tom expanded Thermcraft internationally. He gave presentations about small businesses in Washington, D.C., and developed relationships with companies throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. During his daily presence at Thermcraft, Tom mentored, counseled and advised his employees, many of whom he considered his friends.

Tom was passionate about travel. He loved to travel the world, visit with customers and talk about the many places he had been and things he had seen. Tom 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, say his colleagues, he loved his family.

As successful as Tom 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, say those who knew him best.

Tom 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. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can 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.