Robert Horton

Robert C. Horton

July 25, 1926

Mar 15, 2014

Robert Carlton Horton together with his identical twin brother Richard Wingfield Horton was born July 25, 1926 to Eathel and Frank Horton in Tonopah, Nevada. He first attended McKinley Park Elementary School in Reno before moving to Unionville, Nevada where his father worked the Marigold mine/mill. He attended the still-standing one room schoolhouse in Unionville through the 8th grade, then moved to Winnemucca for high school. He graduated in 1944 from Humboldt Co. High School then moved back to Reno to attend the University of Nevada, graduating from the Mackay School of Mines in 1949 as a mining engineer. He also earned his Professional Engineering distinction and in 1985 Bob received Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from UNR.

Robert enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War as an Air Intelligence Officer on the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier as Lieutenant.

In 1952 Bob married his high school sweetheart Beverly Burhans and raised three daughters, Debra, Robin and Cindy. Bob and Bev were married for 56 years until Beverly's death in 2008.

After the Korean War, Bob worked for the Nevada Bureau of Mines at the University of Nevada for 10 years. Next he served as vice president of three related corporations responsible for exploration, drilling and production of petroleum in eastern Nevada. Then he worked for Meiser Enterprises, as chief of construction. Bob's next venture was opening an office in Reno as the geologist for Bendix Field Engineering Corp., later moving to Grand Junction, Co. headquarters to serve as geology director of the entire Bendix Corporation. In 1981 Bob & Bev moved to Washington, D.C., as Bob had been nominated by President Reagan and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Director of the U.S. Bureau of Mines} Dept. of the Interior. After the Reagan administration, Bob returned to Reno to work again for the Nevada Bureau of Mines as Associate Dean. His final professional contribution was serving as a consultant on the Board of Directors of FirstMiss Gold Inc. /Getchell Gold Corp. mines, until his retirement.

Robert is predeceased by his wife Beverly, parents, Eathel and Frank, as well as all of his siblings, Frank, Orville, Elizabeth and Richard Horton.

Surviving Robert are his three daughters: Dr. Debra Horton D.C., Robin Fitzpatrick & his adored son-in-law Ed, Cindy Meyer, grandson Bill Felices (Marissa) and great granddaughter Kaliah.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, 3/22/14 to be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Reno at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, Bob's request is that you practice random acts of kindness!