Craig W. Eby

Craig W. Eby, of St. Augustine, Florida, age 76, passed away peacefully at home on April 17, 2026, with his wife by his side. After enduring a long battle with Corticobasal Degeneration (an atypical form of Parkinsonism), he is now “absent from the body and present with the Lord”(2 Corinthians 5:8). Craig often referred to his spiritual pilgrimage as “The Bethlehem Connection”: born on September 27, 1949 in Bethlehem, PA, he was spiritually “reborn” near Bethlehem of Judea in Israel on November 10, 1977. This experience shaped his life journey into ministry. As a child, he attended Edgeboro Moravian Church with his family. Craig graduated from Liberty High School in 1967, where he had served as Vice President of the Student Government (1965–1966) and then President (1966–1967). He continued his education at Bucknell University (1967–1971), holding the office of President of his Sophomore Class, Senator-at-Large his Junior Year, and Vice President his Senior Year. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business. Among his proudest college memories was his time as a male cheerleader/announcer at football games, for three years. Following college, Craig pursued a variety of paths, including work with Strawbridge & Clothier in Philadelphia, operating his own carpet cleaning business, Carpet Maintenance Co., and serving for two years in the Peace Corps in Brazil. He also worked at Sienna Hall in Wilmington, Delaware, supporting emotionally disturbed pre-adolescents. Craig later traveled throughout Europe for six months, a journey that culminated in visiting Israel, where he experienced the aforementioned and profound spiritual transformation, choosing to live the rest of his life serving the Lord. Upon returning home, he attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, graduating cum laude, with a Master’s Degree of Divinity. It was at seminary where he met his beloved wife, Mary Lou Bohs, who was also a student. Together, Craig and Mary Lou faithfully served in ministry at several churches, including the United Methodist Church in Clifford, PA; Trinity Evangelical Church (Conservative Congregational Church) in Peterborough, NH; and First Baptist Church of Mount Holly, NJ. During their time in Peterborough, they adopted their daughter, Sarah, a true “Gift” from God, through Bethany Christian Services in Massachusetts. After relocating to Florida, Craig became a hospice chaplain in Northeast Florida, followed by serving his community as a substitute teacher in St. Johns County schools for 15 years, primarily at the high school level. “Mr. Eby” as he was infamously known, was said to be many students’ favorite Sub! His enthusiasm, friendliness and especially his “corny” sense of humor endeared him to the classes he taught, making him very popular in that role. He usually had a baseball cap on saying “Go Eagles!” or “Go Phillies”, two of his favorite Philadelphia sports teams, and could regularly be heard with his familiar greeting, “ALLLL RIIIGHT!” Craig also served faithfully as a Deacon at Anastasia Baptist Church for over a decade, where he and his wife were members for over twenty years. Left to cherish and miss him deeply is his wife and best friend of 47 years, Mary Lou; his daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Wood, and her husband, Gurna Lee “Boogie” Wood, of St. Augustine; and 11 beloved grandchildren, Landon Michael, Hayleigh Elizabeth, Colton Lee, Brantley Isaac, Gurna Lee III, Malachi Christopher, Addilynn Grace, Louis Clifton, Helen Monroe, Elijah Benjamin and Oliver Matthew; brother, Palmer H. Eby II (“Skip”) and his wife, Barbara Eby, of Clermont, FL; brother-in-law, Drew Clifton Bohs and his wife, Rose Marie Bohs, of Chesapeake, VA; cousins, Joanne Landman and her husband, Steve, of Media, PA, Margaret “Meg” Lynch and her husband, Mike, of Skaneateles, NY, Jeffrey Klauder, and his wife, Sue, of Fort Myers, FL, Pamela Spatola, and her husband, Mike of Durham, NC, and Mark Klauder, and his wife, Denise, of Ponce Inlet, FL; nephews, Scott M. Eby, and his wife, Katie, (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), and Matthew D. Eby, and his wife, Missy (Adelaide, Australia); Charles O. Bohs, and his wife, Shevon (N.Y.C.); nieces, Beth Pretti, and her husband, Scott; Kristin Eby Miller, Mary Beth Eby Lovelace and her husband, Cory, and Alicia Eby, all of Pennsylvania; Melissa M. Hoessly, and her husband, Mark (Chesapeake, Virginia); Rachel Neighbors, and her husband, Len (Williamsburg, Virginia); precious second cousins and a multitude of cherished friends. Craig was preceded in death by his parents, Lucille Hawthorne “Pat” Eby and Palmer Hahn Eby; a brother Jack F. Eby; mother-in-law, Helen Klauder Bohs, father-in-law, Louis Clifton Bohs; and his beloved Aunts and Uncles, on both sides of the family. A “Celebration of Craig’s Life” is to be held at a later date, with tentative plans to take place on his birthday weekend at the end of September. Craig will be remembered for his enthusiastic and contagious faith, his servant’s heart, and the enduring impact he made on all who knew and loved him. Above all, His family will miss him more than words can say…. Arrangements are under the care of St. Johns Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

Craig W. Eby

September 27, 1949 - April 17, 2026