Robert P Holton

1935-2018

Robert Pierpont Holton, 82, of League City, Texas died unexpectedly Friday, September 21, 2018 at Clear Lake Regional Hospital.

Bob and his twin sister, Nancy, were born on November 12, 1935 in the middle of the Great Depression in Maplewood, NJ to John H. and Sarah Pierpont Holton. They joined older siblings, John and Mary.

Bob attended Mount Hermon of the Northfield School, in Mount Hermon, MA and graduated in the spring of 1953. He went on to graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1957.

He began a lifelong career in chemical engineering. A particular accomplishment was the design and engineering of a nitroparaffins plant for W.R. Grace & Co. in Deer Park, Texas which produced NitroRace (a top fuel component for NHRA drag racing) in the early 1980s. Bob ended his 43 year career with The Scotts Company in Marysville, Ohio in 2000 and he and Karen moved back to Texas to be near their children.

Bob met his beloved wife, Karen, in 1970 at a singles group at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL and they were married in 1971. Bob and Karen’s faith has been a cornerstone of their lives. They both were baptized as Presbyterians and Bob became an elder in the church in 1971 and continued his faith journey in the United Methodist Church. Bob served as church treasurer in several Methodist churches.

Over the years Bob served many civic organizations, most notably as the Director of the Rotary Club in Deer Park, Texas and Chairman of the Board of the San Jacinto YMCA in the late 1980s.

Bob was a talented woodworker and enjoyed boating on Lake Livingston with his family. During retirement, Bob and Karen loved traveling and especially enjoyed the many riverboat cruises throughout Europe.

In 2015, Bob and Karen made their final move to the Crossings Methodist Retirement Community in League City where they immediately felt at home and became involved in many aspects of the community. Bob served as President of the newly formed resident association.

He is survived by his wife and children, Bill Holton and wife, Mary Ann, Woodbury, MN; Susan Holton Harkins and husband, David, Houston; Michael Holton and wife, Kristal, League City; and Amy Holton Goudy and husband, Garrett, Pearland. He also leaves 11 grandchildren who brought him much joy.

Bob’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, September 29, 2018, 10:00 am at Friendswood United Methodist Church, 110 N. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, TX 77546

Donations in memory of Bob may be made to UMCOR – United Methodist Committee on Relief: https://www.umcor.org