Robert E. Canion, Jr., 103, has passed away. At age 16 Bob started running his dad’s excavation business because of his dad's poor health, and kept the business operating during the depression. Unable to enter the military during WWII he helped the war effort by hauling material to build Luke Field in the west valley and manganese for manufacturing war materials. After the war he contributed to the rapid growth of the Valley of the Sun by excavating basements under many of the Valley's well known buildings including several hospitals, The Phoenix Main Library at McDowell and Central (now the Phoenix Museum of Art), the Senate and House wings of the Arizona State Capitol, Manzanita and Palo Verde dorms at ASU, the Physical Science Building and utility tunnels on the campus. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Nelda and a daughter. He is survived by a daughter, son, six grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Visitation will be Saturday, January 25 at A. L. Moore-Grimshaw 710 W. Bethany Home Road, from 5 to 7 p.m. Masonic funeral services will be January 26 at 1 p.m. at Serenity Chapel, Greenwood Cemetery, 2300 W. Van Buren, Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shriner's Children's Hospital. (Source: Arizona Republic)