Mr. Croteau was born on 18 September 1928, in Marlborough, New Hampshire, the son of Frank and Mildren (Dunton) Croteau. He died  on 14 December 1987, at Medical City Hospital, Dallas, Texas.
He served with the US Army during the Korean conflict and lived in Hacienda Heights, California, where he started his business of manufacturing aircraft parts. He relocated the R & R Machine shop around 1980 to Sherman, Texas and retired from the business in 1983.
On 15 June 1962 he married Mary Ann Price in Los Vegas, Nevada.
He was a member of the Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife; sons, Mark Long of Hacienda Heights, Curtis Long of Dallas and Ray Croteau of Luella, Texas; daughters Sherrie Au of Honolulu, Hawaii, Laura McGlynn of Luella and Nancy Sue Parmenter of Blachly, Oregon; stepbrother, Albert Clow of Illinois; stepsister, Edwina Bragg of Florida; an aunt, Pauline LaRock, who reared him, of New Hampshire; and nine grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by the Reverend Gerald Hughes at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Pallbearers were George Ward, John Hill, Tommy Morse, Chuck Price, Jerry Adams and Dennis Nida.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Waldo Funeral Home, Sherman.