Marin Independent Journal
Saturday, Sept. 8, 1990
Warren H. Kraft
Retired oil executive
William Hamilton Kraft, retired executive of a small oil company, died Friday, Sept. 7, 1990, at Villa Marin retirement residence following a stroke a month ago. He was 89.
Mr. Kraft was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but moved as an infant with his family to San Rafael. He grew up there, attending local schools and graduating from the former Hitchcock Military Academy.
He went on to Stanford University where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and played on the football team. He earned a degree in chemical engineering in 1923.
Soon after graduation, Mr. Kraft began a long career in the oil industry, working for the Honolulu Oil Corp., a one-time small producing oil firm. He spent many years in Taft in Kern County, where he was considered a pioneer in the natural gas field.
Mr. Kraft was responsible for some early day inventions that made possible the use of natural gas for heating. He later became executive vice-president of the firm in San Francisco and lived in Palo Alto and Atherton.
He retired after the company was sold in about 1965 and returned to Marin County. He lived in Novato and San Rafael, as well as a few years in Oakmont in Sonoma County, before moving to Villa Marin more than five years ago.
Mr. Kraft was a member of numerous professional organizations during his career, including the California Natural Gas Association, of which he was past president. He also had been a member of the board of directors of various companies including Suburban Cos.
While living in Kern County he was an avid horseman, playing polo and breeding horses. When he lived in Palo Alto, he enjoyed sailing and was commodore of the Palo Alto Yacht Club.
He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Genevieve Kraft of Villa Marin; a daughter, Mary Kraft Leydecker of San Rafael; a son, Peter C. Kraft of Grapevine, Texas; a sister, Kathryn Fletcher of Berkeley; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Saturday, Sept. 8, 1990
Warren H. Kraft
Retired oil executive
William Hamilton Kraft, retired executive of a small oil company, died Friday, Sept. 7, 1990, at Villa Marin retirement residence following a stroke a month ago. He was 89.
Mr. Kraft was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but moved as an infant with his family to San Rafael. He grew up there, attending local schools and graduating from the former Hitchcock Military Academy.
He went on to Stanford University where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and played on the football team. He earned a degree in chemical engineering in 1923.
Soon after graduation, Mr. Kraft began a long career in the oil industry, working for the Honolulu Oil Corp., a one-time small producing oil firm. He spent many years in Taft in Kern County, where he was considered a pioneer in the natural gas field.
Mr. Kraft was responsible for some early day inventions that made possible the use of natural gas for heating. He later became executive vice-president of the firm in San Francisco and lived in Palo Alto and Atherton.
He retired after the company was sold in about 1965 and returned to Marin County. He lived in Novato and San Rafael, as well as a few years in Oakmont in Sonoma County, before moving to Villa Marin more than five years ago.
Mr. Kraft was a member of numerous professional organizations during his career, including the California Natural Gas Association, of which he was past president. He also had been a member of the board of directors of various companies including Suburban Cos.
While living in Kern County he was an avid horseman, playing polo and breeding horses. When he lived in Palo Alto, he enjoyed sailing and was commodore of the Palo Alto Yacht Club.
He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Genevieve Kraft of Villa Marin; a daughter, Mary Kraft Leydecker of San Rafael; a son, Peter C. Kraft of Grapevine, Texas; a sister, Kathryn Fletcher of Berkeley; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Marin Independent Journal
Saturday, Sept. 8, 1990
Warren H. Kraft
Retired oil executive
William Hamilton Kraft, retired executive of a small oil company, died Friday, Sept. 7, 1990, at Villa Marin retirement residence following a stroke a month ago. He was 89.
Mr. Kraft was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but moved as an infant with his family to San Rafael. He grew up there, attending local schools and graduating from the former Hitchcock Military Academy.
He went on to Stanford University where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and played on the football team. He earned a degree in chemical engineering in 1923.
Soon after graduation, Mr. Kraft began a long career in the oil industry, working for the Honolulu Oil Corp., a one-time small producing oil firm. He spent many years in Taft in Kern County, where he was considered a pioneer in the natural gas field.
Mr. Kraft was responsible for some early day inventions that made possible the use of natural gas for heating. He later became executive vice-president of the firm in San Francisco and lived in Palo Alto and Atherton.
He retired after the company was sold in about 1965 and returned to Marin County. He lived in Novato and San Rafael, as well as a few years in Oakmont in Sonoma County, before moving to Villa Marin more than five years ago.
Mr. Kraft was a member of numerous professional organizations during his career, including the California Natural Gas Association, of which he was past president. He also had been a member of the board of directors of various companies including Suburban Cos.
While living in Kern County he was an avid horseman, playing polo and breeding horses. When he lived in Palo Alto, he enjoyed sailing and was commodore of the Palo Alto Yacht Club.
He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Genevieve Kraft of Villa Marin; a daughter, Mary Kraft Leydecker of San Rafael; a son, Peter C. Kraft of Grapevine, Texas; a sister, Kathryn Fletcher of Berkeley; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Saturday, Sept. 8, 1990
Warren H. Kraft
Retired oil executive
William Hamilton Kraft, retired executive of a small oil company, died Friday, Sept. 7, 1990, at Villa Marin retirement residence following a stroke a month ago. He was 89.
Mr. Kraft was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but moved as an infant with his family to San Rafael. He grew up there, attending local schools and graduating from the former Hitchcock Military Academy.
He went on to Stanford University where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and played on the football team. He earned a degree in chemical engineering in 1923.
Soon after graduation, Mr. Kraft began a long career in the oil industry, working for the Honolulu Oil Corp., a one-time small producing oil firm. He spent many years in Taft in Kern County, where he was considered a pioneer in the natural gas field.
Mr. Kraft was responsible for some early day inventions that made possible the use of natural gas for heating. He later became executive vice-president of the firm in San Francisco and lived in Palo Alto and Atherton.
He retired after the company was sold in about 1965 and returned to Marin County. He lived in Novato and San Rafael, as well as a few years in Oakmont in Sonoma County, before moving to Villa Marin more than five years ago.
Mr. Kraft was a member of numerous professional organizations during his career, including the California Natural Gas Association, of which he was past president. He also had been a member of the board of directors of various companies including Suburban Cos.
While living in Kern County he was an avid horseman, playing polo and breeding horses. When he lived in Palo Alto, he enjoyed sailing and was commodore of the Palo Alto Yacht Club.
He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Genevieve Kraft of Villa Marin; a daughter, Mary Kraft Leydecker of San Rafael; a son, Peter C. Kraft of Grapevine, Texas; a sister, Kathryn Fletcher of Berkeley; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
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