Robert Staton

Robert "Bob" Staton August 14, 1918 July 25, 2008 Robert "Bob" Staton began his new life, dancing in the halls of Heaven on July 25, 2008. Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey chapel with Rev. Curtis Holland officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 7:00 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 28 at the funeral home. Bob began his old life on August 14, 1918, born the youngest child of Mary Loca Smith Staton and Samuel Luther Staton in Union, Mississippi. From the beginning, he loved performing and entertaining. When he attended what was then known as East Central Jr. College in Decatur, MS, he was named "most talented boy" for the year 1937. From East Central, he went on to Louisiana College, playing football on an athletic scholarship, but in 1941, World War II intervened in his life plan. The reserve unit he participated in was called into active duty. Bob was stationed at Camp Swift in Bastrop, TX, put him close enough to Waco, TX to permit him and his buddies to come there to study the Waco girls. Sure enough, on one visit, he saw a pretty young 17 year old girl riding a bicycle down the street. She turned out to be Colleen Hamilton, his wife of 54 years until her death in 1996. The young newlyweds had only a short time together before the war sent him overseas, to return shortly for the birth of their only child, Judy, and then not to come home again until Judy was 3 years old. When the war ended, Bob returned to his family in Waco and he discovered he actually had a talent that he had not previously used. His father-in-law owned a local furniture store; Hamilton's Furniture and Bob went to work at the store helping customers decorate their homes with fine furniture. Eventually, he became the owner and president of Hamilton's. Even now, people he met while working at Hamilton's will mention that they still have and love the furniture he sold them. But his early talents were not forgotten. The furniture store sold pianos and organs and Bob was the number one music demonstrator. There was never a musical instrument that he could not just pick up and play, even though he could not read even one note of written music. Sometimes though, the music came out his feet. He absolutely loved to dance and was still dancing regularly at age 87. Bob was also a fisherman and a bowler. In his later life, he designed and sold western bolo ties and jewelry at local craft shows. He also loved his dogs. The neighbors around his home could see him riding his bicycle up and down the street with a little white poodle in a basket hooked on to the back. Other accomplishments that he was particularly proud of were that he and Colleen helped found the Young at Hearts Club for Waco Seniors, that he was a long time member of Western Heights Baptist Church and that he retired as a Lt. Colonel with the U.S. Air Force. Bob lived his life fully and graciously. He will be greatly missed by his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Bob Gent; his granddaughter and her husband, Robin and John Stillwell, his grandson and his wife, Steve and Shella Gent and his 3 great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Deborah and Parker. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Judy wishes to thank all of the nurses, aides and staff at Quality Care Nursing Home in Waco, who truly made him their "Uncle Bob." He loved you all. Memorial donations may be made to Fuzzy Friends Rescue at 6321 Airport Road, Waco, Texas 76708. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY