Mahlon Craig Waite

“Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life, end over end, neither to the left or right.”  Bobby Bare, “Drop Kick Me, Jesus”

Mahlon Craig Waite, 76, of Bluffton, South Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 30, 2022, at his home.

Craig was born on October 8, 1945 in Saltillo, PA, the son of the late Mahlon F. and Mabel Ruth (Brodbeck) Waite.

On April 21, 1978, he married Jane McCahan Waite.  In addition to his wife of 43 years, he is survived by his daughters, Alison Jane Shinall, wife of Matthew, Everett, Leann Ruth Waite of Bluffton and Leesa Keys-Waite of Everett.  He was the proud grandfather of Mahlon Henry Waite and Samuel Michael Shinall.

He was preceded in death by his son, Dr. Jason Craig Waite and his sister, Sonja Lee Perry.

Craig graduated from Southern Huntingdon High School in 1963.  He then attended Kutztown State College, where he played football and graduated with a Bachelors in Secondary Education and Biology in 1969.  He began his teaching career at Wyomissing High School.  After two years, he moved to Everett to accept a teaching position in the Biology Department at the high school.  He would remain teaching at Everett Area High School for 34 years until his retirement.  During his tenure, Coach Waite was active in the athletic department, most notably as a member of the Everett Warriors Varsity Football Coaching Staff for over 25 years.

After his retirement, he and his wife Jane moved to Sun City in South Carolina.  While living there the past 17 years, Craig has enjoyed playing in the Sun City Softball League, riding his bike throughout the community, shrimping off his favorite dock, enjoying the Riverbend pool and hot tub daily, and taking his boat with his buddy to fish in Sawmill Creek off the Colleton river.  He had a lifelong love of the outdoors, fishing and reading.  Craig was a great man and quite the character.  Extremely private and imposing, he was also unbelievably kind, passionate, and so very funny.  Above all else, he loved his family and placed them first in all he did.  Craig will be greatly missed and remembered fondly.  9 7 5432 3 762 8 1.

Private services will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Craig to Fight Colorectal Cancer at fightcolorectalcancer.org, the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org, or to the Central PA Autism Society, 507 Spruce Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.