Philip Hastings Crayton

Philip Hastings Crayton, 96, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, formerly of Georgetown, Texas, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2024. He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy Shearer Crayton.  

Phil was born in Seneca Falls, New York, to Audrey and Ralph Crayton.  He graduated from Newark (NY) High School, earned his BA in Chemistry from Alfred University and his MA and PhD from The University of Buffalo. He started his career as a Research Chemist for Union Carbide Metals and Carborundum Company.  In 1963 he moved his family to Alfred, New York, to pursue his most rewarding career as Professor of Chemistry at the NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University School of Engineering.  During his tenure he served as Chairman of the Engineering Services Division and Coordinator of the Ceramic Engineering Program. His sabbaticals included research with the Max Planck Institute (Stuttgart) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.

Phil enjoyed summers canoeing and bird watching in the Adirondacks.  He and Dot traveled extensively throughout the world and enjoyed exploring the U.S. in their motorhome.  They retired in Sun City, Georgetown.  There Phil sang in the choir, lead bird watching walks, continued his education with Senior University and enjoyed the quietness of the Texas landscape.   

Philip’s legacy includes his sons Mark Crayton (Elizabeth) Glastonbury, Connecticut, and Lee Crayton (Terry) Newark, Ohio, grandchildren Philip Crayton (Agata) Huntertown, Indiana, Kathryn Bonin (Kenneth) Dracut, Massachusetts, and Jacob Crayton (Peighton) Newark Ohio, and great-granddaughters: Elizabeth Bonin, Amelia Crayton, Addison Bonin and Collins Bonin.  He is also survived by his caring and compassionate caregivers: Norma Rodriguez, Round Rock and Tina Keize, Hartford,Connecticut.