Robert J. Horton

Robert J. Horton

Autumn was right on the cusp of becoming winter on December 20th, 1948, when the young couple welcomed their first child into the world. Robert J. “Bobby” Horton carried his father’s first name, but was never known as Junior since the middle initials didn’t match. Robert P, and his wife, Barbara would add four more siblings into the family over the years…Tom, Gary, Karen and Kay, in that order between 1950 and 1965.

As first-born, Bobby set the tone for what it meant to be a Horton. And what a tone it was Sometimes full speed ahead, attacking any issue with the confidence of knowing it would turn out alright simply because it was supposed to. Sometimes slow and steady…it was said around baseball circles he could hit a sure-fire triple and turn it into a scratch single.

Bob spent most of his life here in The Valley, leaving long enough to serve one hitch in the United States Marine Corps, because they were looking for a few good men. That was one of those issues that he dove into and succeeded at very well. He auditioned with his trumpet for a spot in the Fleet Marine Force Drum and Bugle Team and won a spot that kept him assigned to their base in Hawai’i for the entire time he was in uniform. He received a letter of commendation from the President and CEO, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation in 2010, reading in part: “You should be justly proud of your role as “The Ambassadors of Good Will,” in the Pacific Theater, and being “The Most Traveled Musical Unit in the World,” during the Team’s service.”

Once out of the military, Bobby came home to Athens, married his high school sweetheart, and became a parent. As life will sometimes do, it changed course, and Bob remarried, retaining his relationship with his son, James (or Jim or Jamey, depending upon when you might have met him.)

The ex-Marine tried his hand at owning and operating a bar (Bob’s Place) in Newark Valley, and then again nearer to home (the Elba.) His magnetic personality and his ever-present trumpet brought a loyal clientele to both establishments over time. It also brought a third marriage, this time a 44-year love story, with South Waverly’s Ann Marie Martin. Between the two of them, it’s hard to say who was the better golfer (most would agree it was Ann), but that sport and their love of Shepherd Hills, made them something of a power couple in The Valley. An invitation to Bob and Ann’s New Years Eve party every year was a golden ticket of sorts for a guaranteed good time.

A summer evening on their front porch in East Athens, his Marine Corps flag waving proudly in the breeze, was always a joyful way to spend time. Bob took after his father and namesake, a longtime County Commissioner, by delving into the political realm as a Township Supervisor, twice filling vacated seats. Another example of his willingness to take charge and help make difficult decisions, simply because there was a job that needed to be done.

Bob took a lead role in Vestal for Atlantic Design Corp, working as day manager for a company that had a single client, IBM. When the contract ended and wasn’t renewed, Bob came back to the family business, taking to the road for Horton Electric Motor Service until he retired. By that time, he was a grandfather twice over, Jim having brought sons Dylan and Devin into the world.

The old Marine could always talk tough, and was an absolute master of sarcasm, but those who knew him always knew when it came from an incredibly dry and irreverent sense of humor. But there was a soft side that he kept under wraps. He lit up whenever he talked about those two grandsons, and he was known to walk away from a conversation and mop his eyes dry if you told him, for example, that your 13-year-old dog had died.

In his retirement, a favorite pastime was his weekly Friday visit to the Athens American Legion Post where he might spend hours among his pals, swapping tales and opening pull-tab tickets, hoping for an occasional windfall. Generous with his winnings–when they came–he was likely to buy a round for the bar as he kept on playing for another payoff.

Late September, 2024, dealt Bob a crushing blow, taking the wind out of his sails when the love of his life, Ann, passed away. He had devoted his life for nearly ten years to giving her all the love and care it was possible to give during her years-long battles with a variety of cancers. And then she was gone. On April 12th, just one year and two days after his sister Karen passed away, Bob laid down his labors and his losses, and rejoined Ann, giving way to the afflictions of life that devastate the heart and the body.

His son, Jim, and his grandsons are left now to grieve and to carry on, as are his surviving siblings, Tom, Gary and Kay, along with a dozen nieces and nephews, several in-laws and a huge circle of friends who will forever miss their friend Bobby.

A time of visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 11am – 1pm at the Lowery-Urban Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 225 South Main Street, Athens, PA. A Celebration of Bob’s Life will follow at the funeral home at 1pm with Pastor Linda Rogers officiating.

A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 3pm at Tioga Point Cemetery, 803 North Main St., Athens, PA with Military Honors.

Burial will follow in Tioga Point Cemetery.

Those wishing to sign the E-guestbook or send condolences; you may do so by visiting www.loweryfuneralhome.com.  

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