Robert L. Sutton, Sr.

Robert L. Sutton, Sr., 89, of Port Charlotte passed away Sunday, June 19, 2011. He was the son of a textile worker, born May 3, 1922 in Newnan, GA to John R. and Henrietta (Caswell) Sutton. Robert grew up and was shaped by the greatest social and economic upheaval of the century. "The Great Depression". At age 18, he worked planting trees for the Civilian Conservation Corps a depression era program designed to create work for many unemployed people at that time. Robert enlisted in the US Navy in June of 1942 and served aboard the USS Thomas Jefferson, an APA Class Attack Transport Ship used for landing operations. As a Seaman, First Class, Robert ferried troops and landing craft from his ship to the beaches. The "Thomas Jefferson" participated in the major invasions of WWII at Sicily, Salerno, Normandy, Southern France, Okinawa, the Japanese occupations and island hopping, where they picked up homeward bound US troops. His service on the invading landing craft repeatedly placed him in the midst of the most intense bombardment of the war. Surviving so many such landings taught him an intense appreciation of the value of life. Robert left the service in 1945 at the war's end. After the war, Robert met and married Sylvia Lee Martin and raised two children, Robert Jr. and Alice. Robert soon found work at Burlington Mills in Shannon, Georgia as an electrician. The family lived in Shannon several years before Robert found a better opportunity with the Merchant Marine service in 1955. The family relocated to Port Charlotte, Fl then to Punta Gorda. Over time his children married and provided many grandchildren. Robert served on several ships around all the world's oceans until he retired in 1986 from the Merchant Marines. In his spare time, Robert enjoyed craft work and build the first rotating, lighted musical Christmas Tree seen in Shannon, GA in the early 1950's. He enjoyed making useful, decorative things with ropes using sailor's knots he learned at work. After the death of Sylvia, Robert met and married Patricia Ann Goff on March 21, 1986. His extended family grew to include her children, Robby Sawyer, Eddie (Melissa) Whidden and Danny (Diane) Whidden and grandchildren. He served as Sergeant at Arms of the American Legion, Punta Gorda. Robert struggled with C.A.D. and had related surgeries to improved his quality of life. He and Pat both enjoyed meeting with friends, eating out, watching the sunset at a nearby beach and traveling to visit out of state family. Robert enjoyed watching TV programs such as "Walker, Texas Ranger" and was an avid baseball fan. He will be remembered for his kindness, thoughtfulness and using an expression from an old song in the late 1950's "those who knew him, loved him". Robert will be greatly missed by his wife of 25 years, Patricia; children, Robert L. (Dawn) Sutton, Jr, Alice (Larry) Correll, Robert Sawyer, James (Melissa) Whidden and Danny (Diane) Whidden; grandchildren, Lisa Bettinger, Christine (Jeremie) Reagan, April (Korey) Boggs, Lauren (Nathan) Burke, Annette Tartaglione, Heather (Scott) Worthington, Heather Whidden, Crystal Whidden, Dustin Whidden, Aaron Whidden, James Whidden IV, Sarah Whidden; great-grandchildren, Ashley Greek, Johnny Robert Greek, Jennifer Marie, Stephen David and Tonya Lee Correll, Ava Gabriel Worthington, Jacqueline, Emily, Dominick, Noah, Trenton and Palagia Reagan, Korey Lynn and Mirah Lynn Boggs, Jacob Sutton, Christine and Autumn Burke, Kaylie Whidden and Brooklyn Whidden and great-great-grandchildren, Anna Belle and Chloe; sisters, Sarah Neeley and Margaret Rogers. He was preceded in death by his grandsons, Tommy Correll and Billy Joe Correll; brothers, Curtis Sutton, James Rufus Sutton and Frederick "Buck" Sutton. A memorial service to celebrate Robert's life will be at 11:00 am, Thursday, June 30, 2011 at Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services. To express condolences to the family, please sign the online guest book.