NORFOLK-- Craig Dobson, 55, passed away on Monday, January 14, 2019. He was the beloved son of Mike and Valarie Dobson and brother to Elizabeth Newman (Brian), Melinda Gable (Brad), and Michael Dobson (Laura O'Reilly). He was a fun-loving uncle to nieces Whitney, Holly, Ellie, Lilly and Susie, and nephews Nick and Timmy.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 19, at Church of the Resurrection in Portsmouth. Family will receive friends an hour prior. As a remembrance for Craig, please consider a donation to The Salvation Army at salvationarmysouth.org.

Craig's work on earth is done. A loving and beloved son, brother, friend, he lived life one day at a time. His heart was as big as his voice. Craig greeted the sunrise with a good cup of coffee and morning call to his dad. A man of strong faith, he shared daily devotions with his mom.

Named in honor of his Salvation Army days, Soldier, his faithful German Shepherd, made Craig's life flourish.

Family was everything to Craig. He worked to help us all, from his days at Service Disposal and Newman Homes Construction to The Gable Farms and Michael's Flips. He took pride in his carpentry skills and shared those talents with others.

We honor with gratitude his closest friends. You know who you are and you know Craig's heart.

Sweet and salty or hot and spicy- Craig loved cooking and appreciated a good meal. He delighted as much in a can of beans as he did a ribeye steak. His grilling and culinary skills were to be admired.

A lifelong learner, Craig loved watching documentaries and reading. Most recently he recommended "The Book of Joy" by the Dalai Lama. He had a genuine interest in people and was a true conversationalist.

Craig was happiest by the water or immersed in nature.

When seeking help, he always tried to pay it forward. Please let his faith and favorite salutation be a reminder of his optimistic spirit:

"Have a great day! You've got a great day for it."