Robert W. Cruger

Robert W. Cruger passed away on April 25, 2009 in Lakeland, Florida. He was 88 years old.

He survived his cherished wife Kathy, brother Nicholas and sister Mary Belle. Bob is mourned by his dear friend Mary Hall and will never be forgotten by his numerous friends. Bob grew up in Decatur, Georgia and graduated in 1943 from Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. He was inducted into the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Hall of Fame in 2000. He served as a naval officer in WWII; was Landing Signal Officer on the USS Cowpens, the first aircraft carrier in Tokyo Bay and continued in the Korean Conflict. Bob was a Division Manager of Research and Development for Gulf and Western from 1951 to 1980 and retired after open heart surgery in his 50's. He was an active Real Estate Investor in Philadelphia and Florida. In his youth, he caddied in Atlanta and was an active golfer throughout his life. Bob was a member of Grenelefe Golf and Country Club and was one of the original owners of Diamondback Golf Course. Bob had passionate, hands on approach to sailing and flying. With a van and garage full of tools he built and raced Class "A" catamarans, built, rebuilt and flew many planes and gliders.

Bob was a man's man and lived a full and passionate life. He will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in remembrance to the Lakeland Regional Medical Center Foundation (129 S. Kentucky Ave, Suite 600, PO Box 95448, Lakeland, FL 33804). Funeral service will be Friday, May 1, 2009 at 2:00 PM at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales.

To view the webcast of his service, please click the link below:
http://webcasts.lifetributes.com/66844

To visit his tribute website, please click the link below:
http://www.lifetributes.com/RobertWCruger

To view his tribute video, please click the link below:
http://videos.lifetributes.com/66844