Robert A. Cruz

Robert (Bob) Aboud Cruz, 86, passed away peacefully on December 7, 2022. He was born on November 6, 1936, to Alfonso (Al) and Minnie Aboud Cruz in Corpus Christi, Texas.
As a young boy, Bobby was close to his extended family spending time with his aunts, uncles and cousins. He loved sharing stories of his many adventures especially those he had with his cousins. His strong work ethic started at a young age when he helped his dad deliver Borden’s in the early mornings, managed several paper routes for the Caller Times and repaired bicycles and motorcycles. He enjoyed playing tennis and building and flying model airplanes with this brother and dad. Just like his mother, he had a lifelong love for his dogs and to name a few - Elmo, Drooper, Thunder, Gabby, Katie, Jack and JoJo.
Bob graduated from Miller High School in 1955. After graduation, he pursued a career as a draftsman, designing homes in the Coastal Bend Area. He continued this career for 35 years during which time he established his design business, Southern Designers. In 1960, Bob and Anne Gonzalez were married and had three children. Bob served two years, 1959-1961, in the Air Force reserves.
After years of being a successful home designer, and with the support from the local industry, Bob founded Southern Homes, a home building company where he took pride in designing and building quality family homes. He served on the Building Code of Appeals, served as Vice President and President of the Home Builders Association (HBA) and also was a long-term member of the Board Directors of the HBA. During this chapter in life, he met Pat Bell and they married in 1980. Bob and Pat enjoyed their busy life working together building and selling homes. They also enjoyed an active social life and spending many weekends fishing at “the cabin”.
Bob’s growing interest in ranching began in 1992 as he and Pat started to transition to living on and operating the ranch in Bee County. They were welcomed into the Beeville community and developed many strong friendships. Some have said that bailing hay was Bob’s favorite hobby!
He enjoyed the outdoors including golf, fishing and hunting. He was an established competitive golfer participating and having success in numerous local and regional golf tournaments. He was an active and passionate member of the Pan American Golf Association serving as President and contributing to the development of the PAGA Club House. Bob considered the Oso Golf Course to be his home course and in over 40 years developed and cherished many great friendships on the links. He equally loved his days fishing and sharing experiences with family and friends in the Laguna Madre. Bob was also a devoted fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Longhorns and the Houston Astros.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents Alfonso Cruz, Minnie Cruz, his loving wife Patsy Cranor Cruz and stepson Jim Bell.
Left to cherish his memories are his brother, James Ray Cruz (Neva) of Grandbury, TX and his children Liz Cruz Garbutt (Tim) of Austin, TX, Emily Cruz Robbins (Trace) of Coppell, TX, Robert Gerard Cruz (Sandra) of Brisbane, Australia. He is also survived by his stepchildren Edward Williams of Vivian, LA, Carol Williams Smith (Willard) of San Antonio, TX, Catherine Bell Hensley (David) of Montgomery, TX, Allen Bell of Bedford, TX, Mary Ann Bell of Fort Worth, TX, and 19 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, 1 great- great granddaughter, along with numerous other family members and friends.
A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at Seaside Funeral Home Chapel. A Rosary and Funeral service will be held at 12pm that same day. The Committal service and Interment will follow at 1 p.m. at Seaside Memorial Park.

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