LAGRANGE, Ga.—Harold "Frank" Kardoes, founder of custom mixer Kardoes Rubber Co., died July 4 after suffering from congestive heart failure. He was 80.
Kardoes earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Mankato State College in Minnesota.
He spent the first 20 years of his career in the rubber industry, including a stint at Oliver Rubber Co., working mainly as a chemist or quality control supervisor.
In 1988, he founded Kardoes Rubber in Lafayette, Ala., building the company to a 90-person enterprise that had sales of $43 million in 2013 before he and the family sold it to Hexpol A.B. in 2014.
"Frank greatly enjoyed what he did for a living," his family wrote in his obituary. "He was a hard worker who expected the same in return from his co-workers. He was skilled at working effectively in small groups and in one-on-one situations as well as handling solo assignments efficiently."
He was preceded in death by his son, Randy. Survivors include his wife, Beverly; daughter Kathy (Chuck) Newman; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials can be made to the American Heart Association.