Robert Oliver Crofton III

[Courtesy of Janice Hogan-November 2013]

Robert O. Crofton III

Robert Oliver Crofton III was born at Biloxi, Mississippi on October 18, 1908 to Robert O. Crofton II (1881-1937) and Loretta Gilbert Crofton who later married Henry Y. Tourner (1888-1945).  R.O. Crofton III expired February 5, 1956.

"Robert O. Crofton, 47, 206 W. Water St. Biloxi, commercial artist, designer and interior decorator, died at 8:50 pm Sunday, at Memorial Hospital, Gulfport, after a 17 month illness.  Mr. Crofton had been in the hospital five weeks.  He was a native Biloxian and had lived in Biloxi and Gulfport all of his life.  He was a World War Two veteran.  Mr. Crofton attended Biloxi High School and was graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in Gulfport.  He had done considerable art work along the Coast.  At one time he was with the Saenger Theatres at Biloxi, Gulfport and other points on the circuit.  He was engaged in display work and remodeling and redecorating fronts of theatres and lobbies. He also formerly was with Northrop's, Gulfport.

He has been engaged in work for Biloxi carnival clubs.  He did designing and decorating for the Hotel Biloxi MacArthur Creole Room; Broadwater Driftwood Lodge, White House pool and other projects, including work for Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation at Pascagoula.  He was an active member of the Gulf Coast Art Assn.

He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Henry Tourner, Biloxi; sister, Mrs. C. L. Sheehan, Orlando, Fla.  Funeral services will be held at 10 am Tuesday from Bradford Funeral Home with services at the Church of the Nativity and burial in Biloxi Cemetery." (The Daily Herald, February 6, 1956, p.2)

REFERENCES:

The Daily Herald, “Robert O. Crofton”, February 6, 1956.