Robert E. Cruce, a longtime resident of Oracle, passed away Dec. 29, 2020.
Robert was born Jan. 25, 1933 in Francis, Kentucky. Robert followed his parents to Arizona after his military service in the U.S. Army in 1954. Robert met and married his wife, Dorothy, in 1956. They raised six children.
Robert worked 30 years for Magma Copper Company, retiring in 1985. Robert also had a successful appliance repair business for several years.
Being a silent philanthropist Robert helped many local people as well as other known charities. Robert always felt that one of his best accomplishments was being in on the ground floor of establishing the First Baptist Church of Oracle.
Robert’s summer gardens always produced some of the best tomatoes, despite his belief that they were not as good as the ones in Kentucky growing up.
Robert is preceded in his death by his parents, Lynn and Addie; sister, Patsy; wife, Dorothy; and son, Thomas. He is survived by children, Dave (Joyce) Cruce, Kathy (Larry) Bache, Mikeal (Jacque) Cruce, Tim Cruce and Crystal Cruce. Robert is also survived by siblings, Edna Nell Ray of Marion, Kentucky, and Richard Cruce and Joan Benavidez, both of San Manuel. Robert also had 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
As Dad often quoted to all of his children, “That’s the way life is, go out and be kind”.
No services scheduled at this time.