Robert Emory Barton, known to most simply as Bob, passed away peacefully at home in Dade City, Florida, at the age of 87 on Saturday June 6th, 2026.

Bob was born on July 5, 1938, in Camden, New Jersey, to Emory Lucias Barton and Marjorie Winifred Claypool Barton. He was the middle child, growing up between his older sister, Winifred, and his younger brother, Thomas.

Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Chamberlin Barton; his children, Charles (Karen) Barton, Linda Barton, Shelly Barton-O'Keefe, and Thomas (Natalie) Barton; his grandchildren, Don Ryan Metzcher, Keri Metzcher (Corey) Lee, Heather (Daniel) Trendafilova, and Tristian Barton; and his great-grandchildren Liam Cook, Alexander Trendafilov, and Aidan Trendafilov. He was preceded in death by his firstborn son, Robert Emory Barton Jr., whom he missed dearly through the years.

If you knew Bob, you knew he was his own man. He wasn't worried about impressing anybody. He didn't care much about titles, money, or what people thought of him. What mattered to him was his family, his faith, his work, and living life his way.

Bob spent most of his life working for himself in construction and home repair. He believed if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing right. He worked hard, expected a lot from himself, and believed your word ought to mean something. If Bob said he was going to do something, he did it.

He could be stubborn. He could be rough around the edges. And he definitely liked stirring the pot now and then just to see what kind of reaction he'd get. Sometimes you'd wonder if he was serious, and usually that was exactly what he wanted. He could lose his temper, but he rarely held a grudge. The truth is, he forgave a lot faster than people gave him credit for.

Underneath all that was a man with a soft heart who loved his family deeply. 

Bob never met a stranger. He could talk to anybody, anywhere, and usually did. He loved telling stories, making people laugh, and talking about whatever adventure he was planning next. He had a quick wit and a great sense of humor. One of his favorite sayings was, "Money is the root of all evil, and I'm the biggest rooter." If you knew Bob, you can probably hear him saying it right now. And if you really knew him, you knew that despite the joke, the things he valued most couldn't be bought.

In 1971, Bob and Barbara packed up their five children and moved from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, to Largo, Florida. They didn't have much except determination, faith, and a willingness to work hard. That move says a lot about who Bob was. He wasn't afraid to take a chance if it meant a better life for his family.

Bob was a lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. His faith was an important part of who he was. It shaped the way he lived, the way he worked, and the way he treated people.

To his family, Bob was a husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, teacher, storyteller, handyman, and friend. He was generous with his time and always willing to help if someone needed a hand. He always had an opinion too, whether you asked for it or not.

The world feels a little quieter without him here. We'll miss his stories, his laugh, his stubborn streak, his advice, and especially that vise-like handshake that let you know right away you had just met Bob Barton.

Bob wasn't perfect, and he would be the first person to tell you that. He'd probably shake his head at anyone trying to make him sound too good. But he was real. He loved hard, worked hard, stood by what he believed, and loved his family with everything he had.

We're grateful for the years we had with him, for everything he taught us, for all the laughs, and for the memories we'll carry with us forever.

He will be deeply missed and always loved.