Mr. Ellison "Buddy" Hillard Crow, Jr.

Ellison Hillard "Buddy" Crow, Jr., 91, of Plant City, Florida, made his way to heaven Wednesday, November 6, 2024. He was born July 30, 1933 in Dover, the son of Ellison H. and Mattie Gray Crow. He was a fourth generation Floridian, and the son of a Hillsborough County pioneer farming family. He met his bride, Ann Barnes Crow, in his Father’s strawberry field, and they had just celebrated a long and happy 70 years of marriage on May 20, 2024. Ellison’s experience and training as a Radio Repair Technician in the United States Air Force during the Korean War provided his working foundation, and led to his love of all things “Electronic”. His talents were noted by his supervisors resulting in numerous promotions during his 33 years as an Electronics Engineer. He was put in charge of the Radio/Radar repair shop at his base in Korea and he helped establish a Micro Electronics lab at Martin Marietta in Orlando. Those talents were also used at home to build numerous electronic projects including a “bat locator” to track the bats from the bat house he built; a “duck box monitor” so he would know when the ducks were hatching in the duck box he had built; and a “sound blocker” to eliminate the loud music playing from the kids next door. A true sportsman with a deep love of Florida; he was an avid fisherman and hunter. He simply did NOT miss a hunting season! Not to be deterred when his two children were both born during hunting season, no problem, he brought them to the hunt camp instead of home. He would take his family camping, boating and fishing at Florida’s many parks and springs. Nothing prevented the annual Florida Keys fishing trip, even waiting with the boat on the trailer in the parking lot for his daughter’s high school graduation to end so they could get on the road. When he found an interest, it was intense and focused. He was a firm believer in if someone else can do it, then you can too. Whether teaching his children about Florida while driving its perimeter; purchasing a Piper J3 Cub plane first and then earning his Pilot’s license while learning to fly it; buying a boat and then installing an engine and building his own boat trailer for it; or schooling himself on the fine points of diamonds so he could then buy and invest in them, he was always expanding his knowledge. He loved the internet and the wealth of information at his fingertips. He would spend hours and hours exploring with Google Earth. A love for travel and camping led him and Ann on three different trips to Alaska, all fifty states, and four of the five Canadian Provinces. Later in life he developed a love for cruising, visiting many Caribbean Islands as far away as Grenada, the US Virgin Islands, and even Cuba. He was blessed to have led a very full and satisfying life. He taught his children respect for others, love for family, love for all things native Florida, and how to “do it yourself” and put both his kids through college. He was honest, loyal, opinionated and beloved. Ellison was preceded in death by his sister, Evelyn Crow Harris. He is survived by his wife, Ann Barnes Crow; their children, Janice Crow Gordon (Philip) and David A. Crow (Pamela); sister, Joyce Crow Hunter; grandchildren, Ashley E. Tanner (William), Savannah G. Tanner (Landon), Caroline R. Crow (Grant) and Braxton A. Crow (Allison) and many other beloved family and friends. The family wishes to extend their thanks and appreciation to the nurses and staff of the Hospice Sapphire Team. They were responsive, caring and understanding. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 23rd, at Turkey Creek First Baptist Church, 4915 W. Trapnell Road, Plant City, Florida 33566. Fellowship to begin at 11:00 AM, followed by lunch and opportunities to share memories. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (mda.org), the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or your favorite charity. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Mr. Ellison "Buddy" Hillard Crow, Jr.

July 30, 1933 - November 6, 2024

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Mr. Ellison "Buddy" Hillard Crow, Jr.

July 30, 1933 - November 6, 2024

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