Robert Craig Vida (Butler)Craig
(1921 - 2006) (1922 - 2003)

A Tribute

Robert (Bob) Craig and Vida Blanche Butler were very private persons. They were, it appears, a well-suited and devoted couple.

According to an obituary in the Toronto Daily Star, Bob was brn in Troon, Scotland in 1921.

At an early age he came with his family to live in Montreal, Quebec. There he began and developed a successful insurance business, which many years later he sold.

Vida, his wife, was born in Montreal on Novemer 7th, 1922, and was educated at the Montreal High School for girls.

On completion of her course she considered teaching as a profession, but on hearing a stimulating address by the family physician she decided on nursing. Graduating from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital she went to the Will's Eye Hospital in Pennsylvania for specialized training.

On her return to Montreal she went to live with her parents, Robert Harry Butler and Emma nee Dawe on West Broadway, Notre Dame de Grace (N.D.G.) near Loyola College, now part of Concordia University. There she met Bob Craig, whose family lived on the same street.

One of Vida's friends in nursing was Gladys Washer, who would later marry William Craig, brother of Bob.

The war years were a sad time for many people, who lost close relatives and friends. Vida had become engaged to Donald Aplin of Westmount, Quebec. He was a casualty, having enlisted in the Royal Canadian Airforce and whose plane went down over Cambray, France.

Bob and Vida later became friends, and were married in Wesley United Church, N.D.G. Vida's elder brother Melvin, a minister of the United Church of Canada, officiated. Her neice, Alison Butler, participated as a flower girl. After their marriage Bob and Vida took up residence in nearby Rosemere. In Wintertime they enjoyed living in a milder climate to the South. Theyt liked the outdoor life and golf in particular.

There is an interesting event in the life of Vida and Melvin while still at home. At a gathering of students, Melvin, not having a lady friend to invite, had his sister accompany him. She was introduced as Vida Blanche (her middle name). No one present knew until some time afterwards that the attractive yyoung lady was his sister. 

After their marriage Bob and Vida would visit each other's parents on West Broadway. They celebrated their 25th anniversary in Europe, England in particular, where members of family joined them in celebrating the event. Later on when Vida's parents were to celebrate their 50th a gathering was arranged in Bobcageon, Ontario, area, where brother Melvin was serving as a United Church minister. Later in a letter Vida told Melvin their parents enjoyed the event so much they did not stop talking about it all the way back home to Montreal.

In 1979 when Vida's mother, Emma, then a widow, decided to sell their beloved home on West Broadway, and move to Ajax, Ontario to live near Melvin and Margaret, his wife, she closed the door, turned the key in the lock, and never looked back. Ajax became home. About the same time Bob and Vida decided to sell their home in Rosemere. After some consideration they decided on a place in Burlington, Ontario. From there they made frequent visits to Ajax to visit Vida's mother until her death in 1990.

As said above Bob and Vida liked the sunny South and would go on an occaisional cruise in the Caribbean. Toward the end of their lives when travel became more difficult, they went against all medical advice to Cuba, which they thoroughly enjoyed. In a letter Vida said that on waking up on the first morning there and pulling open the curtains, she was so impressed by the beautiful sight that she wondered whether she had died and gone to heaven. 

After their Cuban holiday Vida and Bob did not have much time together. Bob was unwell, but had the attention of his wife, a nurse. They did manage to entertain her neice, Alison, and family. Melvin and his son Eric later on made a visit; but the next year she was unable to entertain. Melvin was glad to have had several meaningful telephone calls before her death in hospital.

Bob went on living in their apartment, bu eventually went to live in a retirement until passing on. He received good attention in the Lakeshore Place Residence, the Joseph Brant Hospital, from a care-worker, and from nephews, Eric Butler and Ian Craig.

Bob and Vida did not have children of their own but were proud of having between them seven nephews and nieces: Michael Butler, Eric Butler, Alison (Butler) Zagne, Ian and Nancy Craig, David Craig, Anne (Craig) Slater as well as many grand nephews and grand neices. 

Vida and Bob appear to have had a good life together, and one may hope that they have already met again in another realm of unimaginable beauty and love.

Rev. A. M. Butler