Robert "Bob" C. Overall, Sr.

On May 2, 2018, a captain of family and industry travelled home to the great Constructor in Heaven. Robert “Bob” C. Overall, Sr. was born February 25, 1925, to Clyde and Lurline Overall. He was a native of Trenton, Tennessee, and the husband of Mathilda “Matt” Overall. Having been drafted into the army, Bob finished high school then served in the Pacific Theatre for WWII, being among the first groups to land in Japan after the surrender. Immediately upon his graduation in Civil Engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans, he was called into service during the Korean Conflict. In 1953, he went to work for Coastal Contractors, later forming Coastal Bridge in 1955, where he served as president and owner for many years.

In 1949, he married Mathilda “Matt” Aurora Ramon of New Orleans. With the assistance of laughter and love, she stood by Bob’s side for a staggering 66 years of marriage. The two of them raised four very independent and unique children: Bobby, Hall, Ray, and Jeanne. Bob was a lifelong bridge builder and civil contractor for Coastal Bridge Co. in Baton Rouge. Bob often said he wasn’t feeling old at all, until his son, the new owner of the company, began tearing down and replacing some of the bridges he had built when he first entered the industry. Bob also served as President of the Louisiana Chapter of Associated General Contractors (AGC) and earned his place as an Honorary Lifetime Member with the organization.

Though a dedicated husband, father, and contractor, anyone who knew Bob also knew his true passions: boating and being out on the water. The After All was a staple in the Overall family for many decades. It went through several reincarnations, each one grander than the last, but always maintaining a “Lady’s Lounge” for after dinner cocktails and story telling. The After All found homeports in Biloxi and Orange Beach, before finally settling down in Sarasota, Florida. Bob and Matt fell in love with Sarasota, spending the remainder of their time living at Plymouth Harbor, immediately adjacent to the Sarasota Yacht Club.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Lurline Overall, his wife, Matt, and their youngest son, Ramon (Ray). He is survived by his three children: Bobby and his wife Cindy, Hall and his wife Mary, and Jeanne Liles and her husband Richard, along with ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. The family would like especially to thank Deborah Gilliland for the time and care she gave Bob during his final years. Bob was ready to meet his Maker, but was grateful for the bridges he built with family and friends during his lifetime. Before he crossed the final bridge, he was heard saying, “What a great ride!”

Visitation will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, La., Sunday, May 6th from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Monday, May 7th from 10 am-11 am. with funeral services to follow. Interment will be in Metairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your preferred charity.