William Robert Crew III

1/7/1947- 10/8/2023

William Robert Crew, III (Bobby) passed away on October 8th, 2023, with his family lovingly by his side.

Born January 7th, 1947, to Sarah Kathleen Pace (Kat) and William Robert Crew, II (Buddy), Bobby grew up surrounded by family, including his younger siblings, Jimmy and Kathy, in Auburn. He graduated from Auburn High School in 1965 and went on to attend Auburn University.

He then earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Auburn University School of Business in 1970. Upon graduation, Bobby deployed to Vietnam as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, laying utility lines. He served for 19 months.

When he returned to the States, Bobby began working in Montgomery, Ala., as a rate analyst for the Public Service Commission, a position he held for five years. Eventually, he returned to his hometown of Auburn. By 1980, Bobby, along with his longtime friend and business partner, Reggie Oliver, owned and operated the Torch 85 Truck Stop for more than 30 years.

A stranger to no one, Bobby was loved by many, and he will be dearly missed by those who were blessed to know him. He was an active man, who even after retiring from the Torch 85, liked to stay busy, including serving as a Reserve Deputy with the Lee County Sheriff's Department for several years.

No one loved a funny, off-the-wall story more and no one had better stories to share. Bobby enjoyed time spent with his loving wife Patti, family and friends—whether they were gathered to cheer on the Auburn Tigers or just spending a spontaneous afternoon on the back porch. Bobby and Patti, together for 32 years, always welcomed guests with open arms and—thanks to Patti—delicious food and a good time.

He will be remembered for all the heart and thoughtful kindness he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them—and if you knew him, you knew it. He is preceded in death by his parents, Kat and Buddy. He is survived by his wife Patti, son Jonathan (Katie), brother Jimmy (Cynthia), sister Kathy (Lee), stepson Scott (Valerie) Tremaine, stepdaughter Rachael (Dave) Hebel, grandchildren Isabella, Pace and Scarlett Crew, Michael and Andrew (Hannah) Tremaine, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In typical Bobby fashion, there will be no formal service, but rather a celebration of life will be held this Saturday, October 14th, at Fig & Ivy from 3 to 5 p.m. We invite anyone who knew him to come by and remember his wonderful life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Rescue – K911, P.O. Box 862, Auburn, AL 36831, or CARE Humane Society, 1140 Ware Dr., Auburn, AL 36832.