Douglas Poe Cone Sr. died Nov. 30, 2014, in Highlands, North Carolina.
Mr. Cone was born in Tampa in 1928, the third son of Julian Lee Cone and Vera Graham Poe Cone. Growing up he spent time working on the family ranch and groves in Plant City. He attended Gorrie Elementary School, the little red schoolhouse in Citrus Park, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and graduated from Plant High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1950 and was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. He returned to his home town of Tampa, going to work in the family construction business. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1951 to 1953. In 2006, after many years of leadership in the transportation building industry, he was inducted into the Florida Transportation Builders Association Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife, Hillary Carlson Cone; children, Carolee Hirtzel Carlson and Fred Hirtzel Carlson (Marie); and two grandchildren. By his first marriage to Jean Ann Cone (deceased), he is survived by daughter, Julianne Cone McKeel; sons, Douglas Poe Cone Jr. (Deborah) and Ashley Ramsdell Cone (Linda); nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; twin brothers, C.W. Cone, of Plant City, and J.L. Cone Jr., of Tampa; and first cousins, William F. Poe and Charles W. Poe of Tampa.
A graveside service was held Dec. 9, at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park. If desired, donations may be made in his memory to the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Roll Call, (404) 894-0756; Mayo Clinic, (855) 852-8129; or Berkeley Preparatory School, (813) 885-1673.