WALTON, Robert Leslie

June 30, 1934 to February 13, 2020. Bob, Bobby, Papa, Slim. Bobby was born in Stellarton into a rough coal mining neighbourhood that was known locally as "The Bull Pen". This made him, by default, both a proud Bull-penner and a tough son of a bitch. At a very young age, while his family struggled to survive an absent father, he became the anchor for his mother and siblings. Well before he was of legal age, he and his cousin, Babe Mason walked into a recruiting office and joined the Canadian Armed Forces. He became a career soldier and a drummer in the Black Watch Pipes and Drums. A Youtube search (Black Watch 1967 Ed Sullivan Show), will show him in two closeups swinging tenor drum sticks, the covered mallet ends of which were lovingly crocheted by his wife, the love of his life, the late Kay Walton (Mceachern). His prominent traits were his love of family and fierce loyalty to his friends and brothers-inarms. If he had something you needed, it was yours for the asking. Here are some things that he loved and some he was loved for. He had a beautiful tenor voice, singing often with, and for, his wife and children. He sang with his brothers and sisters, around the house, in the car, on their birthdays and at their weddings. He loved God and Hank Snow. The Montreal Canadiens, the Toronto Blue Jays, deer hunting and trout fishing, blueberry picking and lobsters, playing cards (unbeatable in crib), making beer and moonshine, darts and liars dice and buttering birthday noses. Crying, with joy, unashamedly at the birth of his grandchildren, Tommy, Katelin, Emma, Kelsey, Vonnie, Steven and including Nicolle into that precious group. Sadly, he never experienced the joy of meeting his great-grandchildren Zoey and Harlan. He composed a song for Katelin, then taught himself just the guitar chords needed to play it for her. Rocking Kelsey until they were both asleep. Listening to Steven sing "Tell My Ma" and begging him for more. Celebrating Canada Day with Emma on her birthday by literally turning her and a wagon into a float in the parade. Lovingly teasing Nicolle. Hunting snakes and picking Mayflowers with Tommy and Vonnie. He loved Rose Marie’s singing, long walks on the track with Cathy and beers with the boys, Bernie, Tom and Bob. His children’s friends became his friends. He was happy doing anything with Pam and Lynn, seeing them not as in-laws, but as his own daughters. For a long time following the death of his wife Kay he became lost, unable to find his way home. He’s home now.