Obituaries

While her husband pursued a career as an Army officer, she often headed the household when World War II, the Korean War and post-Korean War duties required long separations. She moved 26 times in 20 years, creating homes in Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Virginia, Georgia, the District and Naples. In 1967, after her husband's retirement, the couple settled in Laurel.

She had a gift for making people feel special, a daughter said. "She was fantastic at chatting with people, counseling them and talking with them about their problems," Suzanne Buckingham said.

Mrs. Craven also generously shared her roses and other plants. For many years she grew Christmas roses and many other varieties of the perennial.

"Everyone wanted the Christmas and Lenten roses," Buckingham said, and "people always took pictures in the back yard."

A dedicated gardener, Mrs. Craven received several awards for her garden, where she spent many hours tending her flowers and shrubs.

She also was known as an excellent cook, and she enjoyed traveling with family and friends.

Her husband, retired Army Col. Virgil E. Craven, died in 1999. A son, Keith Craven, died in 1992.

Survivors include, in addition to the daughter of Woodbine, Md., four children, Carolyn Doughty of Jamesville, N.Y., Stanley Craven of Prairie Village, Kan., Douglas Craven of Enfield, N.H. and Mark Craven of Columbus, Ohio; a brother; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb

Maria 'Maitou' FontGMU Professor

Maria "Maitou" Font, 79, who spent 15 years as a Spanish literature professor at George Mason University before retiring in 1983, died June 16 at her home in Fairfax County. She had pneumonia.