Robert "Bob" Pierre Crabtree

Robert Pierre “Bob” Crabtree passed away peacefully on October 2, 2026, at Manor Lake Memory Care in Woodstock, Georgia, just three days shy of his 89th birthday. Surrounded by his two sons and their wives, he left this world to be reunited with his beloved wife of 60 years, Carolyn Hart “Cici” Crabtree, who preceded him in death in June 2024. After years of living with Alzheimer's disease, Bob's health declined following a fall in August and succumbed to subsequent complications. His family takes comfort in knowing that he is now at peace and reunited with the love of his life. 

Born October 5, 1937, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bob was the only child of John Spencer “Penny” Crabtree and Mary Jean LaPierre “Susie” Crabtree, both of whom preceded him in death. 

From an early age, Bob possessed an insatiable curiosity about how things worked, along with an extraordinary ability to figure out how to make them work better. As a young man, he and a high school friend took it upon themselves to create what they understood to be the first map of Jackson, Missouri, after discovering that none existed. On another occasion, when the projector at Jackson's small movie theater broke, Bob engineered an ingenious repair using little more than a flashlight bulb and a mirror. These were just two of the many stories he delighted in sharing with his family over the years, each illustrating the resourcefulness and inventive spirit that would define his life. 

That lifelong passion for learning and solving problems led Bob to the University of Michigan, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and became involved in the university's pioneering computer programming activities. 

In 1962, Bob joined the United States Army as an aeronautical engineer, working with NASA during the early years of America's space program. It was during this time that a friend introduced him to his girlfriend's sister, a young woman from a small North Carolina town named Carolyn Hart. The brilliant young engineer had met his match, and the two were married in Grifton, North Carolina, in 1964, beginning a remarkable 60-year love story. 

In 1965, Bob left the Army to join IBM, where he continued his work supporting NASA's space program. He became one of the original developers of HASP (Houston Automatic Spooling Priority), groundbreaking software developed for NASA's Apollo-era computing systems. HASP would go on to influence IBM's mainframe operating systems for decades, extending the impact of Bob's work far beyond the space program. Known affectionately to his colleagues as “Crabby,” Bob enjoyed a distinguished career in software engineering, contributing to numerous innovations in the formative decades of modern computing. His work included patented IBM inventions and advances in computer operating systems. He retired from IBM around 1995, leaving behind a professional legacy of ingenuity, innovation, and problem-solving.

Yet for all his professional accomplishments, Bob's greatest gifts may have been his generosity, loyalty, and willingness to help others. Bob and Cici made countless friends throughout their life together. Although Bob’s IBM career moved them to many different places, the friendships they formed in each place often lasted a lifetime. Even in retirement, if someone needed help with anything from a computer problem to a burned-out lightbulb, Crabby was the person to call. He would arrive, usually without hesitation, ready to figure it out and save the day. 

Above all, Bob was devoted to his family. He is survived by his sons, David Scot Crabtree (Victoria Ann) and Douglas Alan Crabtree (Lee Ann); his five beloved grandchildren, Jared, Taylor, Thomas, and Sydney Crabtree, and Katrina Cabarubio (Tyson); and his three great-grandchildren, Emma, Adeline, and Mac. 

To his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was simply “Papa,” the man with the magic tricks, wonderful stories of days gone by, and endless pride in their accomplishments. Few things brought him greater joy than helping his children and grandchildren pursue their dreams. Whether offering advice, lending his considerable talents, or simply cheering them on, he delighted in being part of their lives. His curiosity, generosity, and love will live on through the generations he leaves behind.

Bob will also be deeply missed by his sister-in-law, Judith Gagnon (Robert); his brother-in-law, Joseph Hart Jr. (Rebecca); and his beloved niece, nephews, and their families. In accordance with his wishes, Bob's ashes will be scattered in a private ceremony at Lake Santeetlah, NC in the spring. It was there Bob & Cici built their dream home, surrounded by the natural beauty they loved, and Bob had the honor of serving as the town's mayor for several years. Of all the places they lived, none held a more special place in their hearts. It was their cherished retreat and the place they held most dear and it was there that they both wished to have as their final resting place.

Bob spent his life finding ways to make things work better, but his greatest legacy is found in the lives he made better simply by being part of them