Robert L. Howerton

our Dad is now beyond the suffering he has endured for these many months.

Throughout his trials over the past few years our Dad always kept a positive outlook and upbeat manner. Few people we

know could gather such courage and resolve while facing the multitude of obstacles that confronted him.

Our Dad was an adventureous spirit and even up to his death he spoke of things he still wanted to try and places he wanted to go.

Dad was born in coal country of western Kentucky and married our Mom, Mary Smoot from Ohio in 1956.

Joining the US Army in 1957, Dad and our family traveled widely during his 20 years of active duty. His paticipation in Berlin during

the Cold War of the early 60's was an exciting time for Dad and he was decorated for his efforts during this pivital time in history. He later went on to employ counter-inteligence operatives working behind the Iron-Curtain in East Germany and Czechoslovakia.

In 1968, Dad spent a tour in Vietnam organizing counter-insergency scouts from local populations to assist US armed forces units

operating in remote parts of the country.

Through the Army Language Schools Dad attended in Monterey, California and Fort Bliss, Texas, Dad was fluent in German, Czech, and Vietnamese. He could also speak on easy terms with a moonshiner from Buchanan County or a State Department Official visiting the Pentagon.

After we moved to Pensacola, our Dad became one of the most successful Boy Scout Masters the Gulf Coast has ever seen. He had

our scout troop in the woods hiking, camping, or canoeing every month of the year. At it's peak, Dad's Troop 32 boasted over 80 active scouts. Through his guidence and steerage, our Dad fostered over 15 Eagle Scouts during his time as Scout Master. Seven of these

Eagles Scouts were awarded this high honor at one setting. --A feat unrivaled in scouting at the time.

Later in life, our Dad became enthralled with walking tours and ultimitly became the president of the NW Florida Volksmarchers Club. When

his legs began to fail him, the inabiltiy to do his hiking and camping trips affected him deeply.

The 2009 loss of our mother and his wife of 53 years affected Dad on a profound scale, but he, as his tough exterior would demand, forged ahead with a easy smile; -- even though he had a tougher time of things due to his ailing health.

We can't begin here to list the many memories that our Dad has brought to us and those who knew him. The many life lessons he taught us no only as children, but well into adulthood are too many to list here. He was always our mentor and guide. Keep your memories

of Bob Howerton with you as he was a rarity among men.