Robert Junior Hartman

Robert Junior Hartman was born in East Fultonham, Ohio on January 30, 1932, a small town near Zanesville, Ohio.  His mother, Phoeba Tom Hartman, was a teacher who taught all eight grades at the Townhouse Schoolhouse and received her degree from Ohio University.  His father, Robert Eugene Hartman, worked at the local cement plant when Robert and his sister were young.

As a teenager, Robert and his family relocated to Albany, Ohio.  The family worked and lived on a farm from 1945 to 1949. During that time, Robert attended Albany High School in Albany, Ohio where he played basketball. During this period, he developed a love of all things mechanical and began his lifelong hobby working on cars.

After graduating in 1949, Robert began working at factory in Columbus, Ohio. However, he was soon drafted into the army to serve in Korea.  After returning from the war in 1952, Robert began working for Columbus Coated Fabrics, a division of Borden Company.  He was promoted and worked there as a foreman for more than 40 years until his retirement in 1993.   For most of his adult life, Robert also owned and maintained as many as a dozen residential rental properties in the central Ohio area.

In 1958, Robert married Thelma Mae Beatty, a graduate of Albany High School, class of 1952, three years behind Robert.  Despite the fact that they attended the same high school, they did not start dating until Robert had completed his military tour and Thelma had relocated to Columbus, OH.  Their only child, Susan, was born in 1964.  Shortly after Susan was born, the family relocated to Pickerington, Ohio, just east of Columbus where they lived for over 40 years and still retain a house. At the time of his death, Thelma and Robert had been married for 61 years.

Susan married and moved with her husband Gary Barton to South Florida in 1985. As such, Robert and Thelma dutifully visited South Florida many times over the next 20 years. After Thelma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Robert suffered a stroke, they decided to stay permanently in South Florida. They moved in with Susan and Gary where they would have more assistance, but they continued to look after each other.

By end of 2013, Thelma’s Alzheimers progressed to the point that she needed to be relocated a few miles away to Manorcare Boca.  Robert and the family would often visit Thelma sing church hymns, Elvis songs and other old time favorites from when they were young.

Robert continued to play guitar, drive short distances, teach himself about new electronics, watch the news, and spend time with his family until the day he went into the hospital on November 2.

Robert is survived by his wife Thelma Beatty Hartman, daughter Susan Barton, son-in-law Gary Barton, grandchildren, Connor Barton, Christine Barton and Cameron Barton, his niece Kathy Norris, and nephews Tom Harman and William Harman.  He is preceded in death by his parents Phoeba and Robert Hartman and his sister Bernice Harman Scoates.

He lived a very full and enjoyable life with his family until his passing on November 14, 2019 at the age of 87.   He will be deeply missed by those who loved him.

A visitation will be held from 1-4 pm on Sunday, November 24 at Glick Family Funeral Home in Boca Raton where a Funeral Service will begin at 4:00PM.

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