Robert Charles Hudson Sr

St. Cloud, Florida – A Giant Tree Has Fallen Robert “Bob” C. Hudson, 83, of St. Cloud, Florida and formerly of Raymond, Maine, passed away after a long illness on August 15, 2022. Robert, the 7th of 9 children, was born October 21, 1938 to Earl Winfield Hudson (1892-1965) and Lillian E. (King) Hudson (1900-1962) with the distinction to this day of being the largest baby ever born at Westbrook Hospital at a weight of 14 pounds! Robert grew up between hometown Westbrook and their family camp on Panther Pond in Raymond. He was a hard worker from his earliest days while attending Westbrook High School, where his nickname was “Rock.” He later apprenticed at Gulian’s Carpet in Portland, Maine learning his trade until he opened his own business, “Hudson’s Floor Covering”, which he operated in Raymond with his wife Dottie until his retirement and relocation to St. Cloud in 2003. He did many projects of distinction, commercial and residential, but one that stands out and was a source of pride was being chosen to do the residence of the Governor of Maine. Growing up on Panther Pond, Robert became an avid water skier and boater which continued throughout his life building his second home on Crescent Lake. While it was being built Robert and Dottie occupied and ran Crescent Lake Cottages, a charming vacation resort on lower Crescent right before the start of the Tenney River connection to Panther. In the winter he loved snowmobiling and winter sports. Their children all enjoyed these past times in their own upbringing in the Lake Region of Maine. Robert was a life-long hunter with a “Hunting Camp” in Eustis, Maine which was the backdrop for many hunting trips and subsequently, venison in the freezer with more than one deer coming home on the hood of his car! He also hunted the local woods in and near Raymond all of his life and almost every deer season until his move to Florida. He would have been a cowboy and sharpshooter in another life and some of his family referred to him as “John Wayne”, a true-grit, patriotic, no- nonsense model of Robert. He also loved watching sports of all kinds but particularly the Patriots and Tom Brady where his love of his team became widely known and supported. On his 80th birthday, his children and their families and others surprised Robert with his first televised Patriots sports bar experience with two big screens in a private room showing one of the last Brady/Patriots games in action to their win! He was made the MVP of the day and was in full Patriots regalia. It was a wonderful time! Sadly, this was the last time he would be with all of his family together including his wife Dottie as the pandemic would prevent that soon thereafter. Robert was a perfectionist and took great pride in a job well done. As he said many times, “there are two ways to do something, the right way and the wrong way.” If you knew him you knew exactly what that meant. He loved to teach by example and would teach by showing how to do something and then tell you to go do it. You found out soon enough if it was one of the two ways! He was always teaching in one way or 100 others and would take great pride when a child, family pet or an adult learned something from his tutelage. He enjoyed working and had a passion for excellence. He loved taking meticulous care of his homes, yards, gardens and pools. He was an innovator and common- sense thinker who could not understand anything done halfway or with half-hearted effort. He was widely respected and well-liked and people were drawn to his intelligence, big heart, incredible sense of humor and infectious smile. He was a king among men and every man’s champion, unless they were lazy, abusive or dishonest. He lived by a moral compass, had core integrity and was ethical to a fault. He would never be comfortable with something for nothing but only compensation for honest, exemplary work, which he was known for. Robert was also a builder and craftsman building three custom homes over the years along with many other construction projects. If ever there were a jack of all trades it was Robert. He was proud of each of these homes to which he and Dottie welcomed countless family and friends. All were welcome and such good times were had! Their house became a home away from home for their children and grandchildren, whom they loved dearly, with birthdays, holidays and family gatherings which provided their family with cherished memories that will live forever. Their homes also welcomed many foster children for over 30 years that became extensions of family and were treated with love, structure and good old-fashioned family values. These children came to adore him and continue relationships with him and Dottie long after moving on. Bob and Dottie were members of Gray Assembly of God where Bob was a Deacon, and later became founding members of the Assembly of God Ministries in Windham. They were very active participants and did a lot to help the church and its community. For the last 8 years Robert was a resident of a rehabilitation facility in St. Cloud where, in spite of his own handicaps and daily challenges, he was a protector of many less fortunate (in his opinion) and purveyor of all. He was affectionately referred to as “the Mayor” and was well- loved and admired for his compassion, his strength of will and perseverance, his never-ending wit and his crackerjack personality. He will be remembered and missed by many there who were fortunate enough to get to know him. Robert is predeceased by siblings: Marie L. Hudson 1920-1932, Earl “Buddy” W. Hudson Jr. 1921-1992, Drusilla “Dru” D. Hudson Armstrong 1923-2007, Herbert “Herb” S. Hudson 1930-1996, Carol Hudson 1936, Roberta “Bobbi” R. Hudson Gregoire 1937-2016, and Richard “Dicky” P. Hudson 1941-1979. Robert is survived by younger sister Sandra “Sandy” L. Hudson Delcourt and brother-in-law Robert Gregoire along with many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his first wife and mother to his first four children, Carol Ann Cass. Robert is survived by six beloved children, Leanne M. Hudson (Joseph Cugno), Robert C. Hudson Jr. (Jane), Suellen Hudson McCarthy (Patrick Rogers), Julianne Hudson McCullum (Kenneth), Donald G. Snook, Jr. and Courtney A. Hudson Ahadi (Hamayon). Also surviving Robert are cherished grandchildren (12) and great-grandchildren (15). Robert met Dorothy in 1972 while she worked at her sister and brother- in-laws business, Red Sands Restaurant, and were married there four months later. Sadly, Robert was predeceased by Dorothy (Sandford Hudson) who passed October 31, 2020. November 18, 2022 would have been their 50th wedding anniversary. A memorial and grave side service will be held October 21, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Woodlawn Cemetery at the Hudson family plot in Westbrook, Maine with a gathering of family and friends to follow at the Stockhouse Restaurant in Westbrook to celebrate the lives of Bob and Dottie. “A good life leaves behind seeds that will keep on growing.” Dad’s stories, his values and his love of family all live on in us. What a wonderful legacy. Hasta luego dear Dad. Rest in peace, until we meet again.

Robert Charles Hudson Sr

October 21, 1938 - August 15, 2022