Robert E. Craddock

Craddock, Robert Earl, loving Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather, passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 27, 2012 after battling a brief illness. He was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1924. “Bob” and his wife Doris, married for 62 years before her passing in 2007, moved to the Tampa area in 1958 and where they raised their 6 children. Bob spent over 50 years in the Steel Construction Industry, where he built several businesses and was Founder and Chairman of the Board of Tampa Amalgamated Steel Corp and Co-Founder of Florida Prefab Buildings in Tampa, with his partner Ken Levy. He served in the Merchant Marines during WWII and loved boating and fishing. He enjoyed old movies, especially Westerns. In his work, he was gifted with a unique ability to get things done and resolve problems and come up with solutions to complex situations in his industry. His wisdom and guidance was often sought after by those who really knew him. His kindness, willingness to help people, and his generosity were his greatest attributes. He was preceded in death by his father, William Carroll Craddock, and his mother, Lucile Burkett. He is survived by his brother, Henry Louis (Buddy) Craddock and sister, Geraldine (Jerry) Gaudin, both of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is also survived by his 6 children, daughter Gail and husband Jim of Riverview, son Robert and wife Linda of Wesley Chapel, son Tommy and wife Elaine of Lithia, son Frank and wife Dreama of Riverview, son John of Tampa, and daughter Karen and husband Carl of Valrico. He is also survived by his 14 Grandchildren and 20 Great Grandchildren. He was very well respected, both personally and professionally, by all who knew him and will be sorely missed by all. He will remain loved and be in our hearts, until we meet again beyond Heaven’s Gates, where we will see him once again, face-to-face. The family will receive friends 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Bob’s honor to LifePath Hospice, 12973 N. Telecom Parkway, Suite 100, Temple Terrace, FL 33637.