Craig Baillie
August 2, 1930 – February 9, 2024

Craig Baillie, age 93, of Media, PA died peacefully on February 9, 2024, at Sunrise Granite Run, with family by his side.

Born on August 2, 1930 and raised in Chester, PA, Craig was the youngest of four children born to William and Mary Florence Nutt Baillie, immigrants from Belfast, Northern Ireland, William in 1909 and Mary in 1919. Growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, Craig learned frugalness and the value of hard work in lean times, but also enjoyed good clean fun with family and friends in the neighborhood. After graduating from Chester High School in 1949 he went to work for the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania as a telephone installer. He would work for the telephone company in various capacities until his retirement in 1983 on the eve of the Bell System divestiture. He then worked as a telecommunications supervisor for Henkels & McCoy, Blue Bell, PA for another 11 ½ years. Craig enlisted in the US Navy in 1951 serving four years as a telecommunications repairman aboard the USS Fulton, a submarine tender based out of New London, CT. He attained the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class.

Craig married Nancy Anne Pennock of Cheyney, PA in 1952. (He called her to ask her on their first date while working at the top of a telephone pole!) They built their home on Mattson Road in Concord Township, Delaware County, PA in the 1950s and raised their eight children there. Craig passed on the values of hard work and loving family to his six sons and two daughters. Finishing and maintaining the home through the years gave Craig the opportunity to teach his sons important vocational skills that some turned into their careers. Even his daughters benefitted from watching him work! Growing up a "city" boy, Craig gave his children a "country" life raising a variety of farm animals through their growing-up years. Sheep, rabbits, chickens, and beef and dairy cows helped feed the family while the Shetland ponies, dogs and cats were for fun.  Craig shared this home with his wife Nancy for 62 wonderful years before their move to Sunrise Granite Run in Media in August 2019.

During retirement, he spent his time puttering in his garage shop and vegetable gardening, serving in church ministries, visiting with friends and family and traveling with his wife.  He also enjoyed reading about local history and was actively involved with the Concord Township Historical Society for a time. Researching family genealogy resulted in a memorable trip with Nancy to England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1991.  He and Nancy also shared short vacations with her brother and sister-in-law. He enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The babies were a magnet (anyone's baby actually!) as he loved to hold them, mesmerizing them with his clicking false tooth!

A member of Stonybank Community Church, Glen Mills, PA for years, Craig served at different times as Sunday School Superintendent, Trustee and Elder. The family usually sat in the back corner of the small sanctuary during Sunday worship with Craig at the rear able to reach several pews forward to calm distracted or unruly children with a firm grip on the shoulder! In recent years he and his wife, Nancy, attended First Baptist Church of Ogden in Upper Chichester, PA until health issues made regular attendance difficult.

Above all, Craig was a strong Christian, believing in Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord, and confident of his eternal destination in Heaven with Him. His quiet faith directed his life and he is now rejoicing in the presence of Jesus.

Craig is survived by his eight children, Nancy (Daniel) Strong of Manchester, NH, Craig Jr. (Nancy M.) of Thompsontown, PA, William (Sharon) of Coatesville, PA, John (Margaret) of East Fallowfield, PA, James (Sandra) of Garnet Valley, PA, Katharine (Paul) Wills of Coatesville, PA, Mark (Katherine) of Cherry Hill, NJ, and Stephen (Tammy) of Garnet Valley, PA.  His 24 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren will miss him. Also surviving are his brother-in-law, Hadley B. Pennock, Jr., and five nieces and nephews. Craig was predeceased by his parents and siblings, William Malcolmson, Edith F., and Virginia E., two sisters-in-law, Mary T. Baillie and Patricia E. Pennock, and a niece. Craig shared almost 70 years of marriage and life with his wife, Nancy, before her passing in 2022.

The family extends appreciation and thanks to the care staff at Sunrise Granite Run and the nurses and aides with Main Line Hospice for their compassionate care of Craig and support to the family.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for 11 am on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Ogden, 2446 Mill Road, Upper Chichester, PA. All family and friends are invited to attend this time of celebration and remembrance.

Burial arrangements are private at Edgewood Memorial Park, Glen Mills, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Craig's memory to First Baptist Church of Ogden, 2446 Mill Road, Upper Chichester, PA 19061.

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Arrangements: Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home
15 E. Fourth St. Media, PA 19063
www.haganfuneralhome.com