COLUMBUS, GA— Robert "Bob" Hugo Walton passed away peacefully in his home Friday evening, January 30, 2009. He will be laid to rest at Chapel of the Pines Mausoleum at Parkhill Cemetery on Tuesday, February 3 at 2:00 pm with Al Abbott of Edgewood Church of Christ officiating.
He was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1926 to Horace Hugo and Clara Pearl Lee Walton. Walton graduated from Tech High in Atlanta and Stetson University in Deland, Florida where he majored in Business Administration. Retired after 50 years in radio and television broadcasting, Walton held positions in sales and management in Maine, South Carolina, and Georgia. He was the former General Manager of WRBL-TV 3 and WLTZ-TV 38 in Columbus, Georgia. Walton served as Governor of the "Deep South" District of the American Advertising Federation in 1963 and was presented the Silver Medal for outstanding service after his presidency of the Advertising Club of Columbus. In 1995 he was honored as Broadcaster of the Year by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters. He was past president of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus where he was a member of the Legion of Honor as well as a recipient of the George Hixson Fellow Award from Kiwanis International. Walton was a past chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Columbus and a member of numerous civic organizations. He was also very active in Ft. Benning's Allied Officers Training Program. One of his greatest joys in life was traveling the world with his beloved wife, Jo. He was a frequent Òon air performer including host of the United Negro College Fund Telethon and the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Walton was also Master of Ceremonies for numerous Miss America Scholarship preliminary pageants. For many years, Walton also emceed the Grand Stand Shows at the Chattahoochee Valley Fair. His love of broadcasting started at an early age. As a teenager, he built an operational radio station in the attic of his Atlanta home, which unknown to him required a radio license. A short- lived entrepreneurial effort, it was soon shut down by the FCC. Known for his beautiful broadcaster voice and his ability to speak more words in a 30-second spot than most broadcast talent, he earned the nickname, ÒRapid Robert.Ó His creative talents extended far beyond the microphone and camera. He was an accomplished artist and a prize-winning writer, especially in promoting local products and companies such as "Mr. Moo" for Wells Dairies and Bemco matresses. He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Sara Jo Williams Walton, a former Mrs. Columbus, Mrs. Georgia and Director of Conventions and Meetings at AFLAC.
Survivors include his son, Robert (Mitzi Oxford) Walton; daughters, Elizabeth "Beth" Walton and Brenda (Ken) Maxwell Hall; grandsons, John and Robert Maxwell, Robert Walton, James Hall and Brian Hall.
Walton was a long-time member of the Edgewood Church of Christ. While Walton loved all of his children, he held a soft spot in his heart for his middle daughter, Beth, who was born mentally handicapped. He and Jo, along with many others, worked hard to establish special education in Georgia for those with special needs, serving as the president of the Columbus and the Georgia Association for Retarded Children. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Bob Walton Memorial Fund at CB&T of Columbus to support special programs for Beth and her friends at the Therapeutic Recreation Program of Columbus Parks and Recreation.
He was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1926 to Horace Hugo and Clara Pearl Lee Walton. Walton graduated from Tech High in Atlanta and Stetson University in Deland, Florida where he majored in Business Administration. Retired after 50 years in radio and television broadcasting, Walton held positions in sales and management in Maine, South Carolina, and Georgia. He was the former General Manager of WRBL-TV 3 and WLTZ-TV 38 in Columbus, Georgia. Walton served as Governor of the "Deep South" District of the American Advertising Federation in 1963 and was presented the Silver Medal for outstanding service after his presidency of the Advertising Club of Columbus. In 1995 he was honored as Broadcaster of the Year by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters. He was past president of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus where he was a member of the Legion of Honor as well as a recipient of the George Hixson Fellow Award from Kiwanis International. Walton was a past chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Columbus and a member of numerous civic organizations. He was also very active in Ft. Benning's Allied Officers Training Program. One of his greatest joys in life was traveling the world with his beloved wife, Jo. He was a frequent Òon air performer including host of the United Negro College Fund Telethon and the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Walton was also Master of Ceremonies for numerous Miss America Scholarship preliminary pageants. For many years, Walton also emceed the Grand Stand Shows at the Chattahoochee Valley Fair. His love of broadcasting started at an early age. As a teenager, he built an operational radio station in the attic of his Atlanta home, which unknown to him required a radio license. A short- lived entrepreneurial effort, it was soon shut down by the FCC. Known for his beautiful broadcaster voice and his ability to speak more words in a 30-second spot than most broadcast talent, he earned the nickname, ÒRapid Robert.Ó His creative talents extended far beyond the microphone and camera. He was an accomplished artist and a prize-winning writer, especially in promoting local products and companies such as "Mr. Moo" for Wells Dairies and Bemco matresses. He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Sara Jo Williams Walton, a former Mrs. Columbus, Mrs. Georgia and Director of Conventions and Meetings at AFLAC.
Survivors include his son, Robert (Mitzi Oxford) Walton; daughters, Elizabeth "Beth" Walton and Brenda (Ken) Maxwell Hall; grandsons, John and Robert Maxwell, Robert Walton, James Hall and Brian Hall.
Walton was a long-time member of the Edgewood Church of Christ. While Walton loved all of his children, he held a soft spot in his heart for his middle daughter, Beth, who was born mentally handicapped. He and Jo, along with many others, worked hard to establish special education in Georgia for those with special needs, serving as the president of the Columbus and the Georgia Association for Retarded Children. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Bob Walton Memorial Fund at CB&T of Columbus to support special programs for Beth and her friends at the Therapeutic Recreation Program of Columbus Parks and Recreation.
COLUMBUS, GA— Robert "Bob" Hugo Walton passed away peacefully in his home Friday evening, January 30, 2009. He will be laid to rest at Chapel of the Pines Mausoleum at Parkhill Cemetery on Tuesday, February 3 at 2:00 pm with Al Abbott of Edgewood Church of Christ officiating.
He was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1926 to Horace Hugo and Clara Pearl Lee Walton. Walton graduated from Tech High in Atlanta and Stetson University in Deland, Florida where he majored in Business Administration. Retired after 50 years in radio and television broadcasting, Walton held positions in sales and management in Maine, South Carolina, and Georgia. He was the former General Manager of WRBL-TV 3 and WLTZ-TV 38 in Columbus, Georgia. Walton served as Governor of the "Deep South" District of the American Advertising Federation in 1963 and was presented the Silver Medal for outstanding service after his presidency of the Advertising Club of Columbus. In 1995 he was honored as Broadcaster of the Year by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters. He was past president of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus where he was a member of the Legion of Honor as well as a recipient of the George Hixson Fellow Award from Kiwanis International. Walton was a past chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Columbus and a member of numerous civic organizations. He was also very active in Ft. Benning's Allied Officers Training Program. One of his greatest joys in life was traveling the world with his beloved wife, Jo. He was a frequent Òon air performer including host of the United Negro College Fund Telethon and the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Walton was also Master of Ceremonies for numerous Miss America Scholarship preliminary pageants. For many years, Walton also emceed the Grand Stand Shows at the Chattahoochee Valley Fair. His love of broadcasting started at an early age. As a teenager, he built an operational radio station in the attic of his Atlanta home, which unknown to him required a radio license. A short- lived entrepreneurial effort, it was soon shut down by the FCC. Known for his beautiful broadcaster voice and his ability to speak more words in a 30-second spot than most broadcast talent, he earned the nickname, ÒRapid Robert.Ó His creative talents extended far beyond the microphone and camera. He was an accomplished artist and a prize-winning writer, especially in promoting local products and companies such as "Mr. Moo" for Wells Dairies and Bemco matresses. He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Sara Jo Williams Walton, a former Mrs. Columbus, Mrs. Georgia and Director of Conventions and Meetings at AFLAC.
Survivors include his son, Robert (Mitzi Oxford) Walton; daughters, Elizabeth "Beth" Walton and Brenda (Ken) Maxwell Hall; grandsons, John and Robert Maxwell, Robert Walton, James Hall and Brian Hall.
Walton was a long-time member of the Edgewood Church of Christ. While Walton loved all of his children, he held a soft spot in his heart for his middle daughter, Beth, who was born mentally handicapped. He and Jo, along with many others, worked hard to establish special education in Georgia for those with special needs, serving as the president of the Columbus and the Georgia Association for Retarded Children. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Bob Walton Memorial Fund at CB&T of Columbus to support special programs for Beth and her friends at the Therapeutic Recreation Program of Columbus Parks and Recreation.
He was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1926 to Horace Hugo and Clara Pearl Lee Walton. Walton graduated from Tech High in Atlanta and Stetson University in Deland, Florida where he majored in Business Administration. Retired after 50 years in radio and television broadcasting, Walton held positions in sales and management in Maine, South Carolina, and Georgia. He was the former General Manager of WRBL-TV 3 and WLTZ-TV 38 in Columbus, Georgia. Walton served as Governor of the "Deep South" District of the American Advertising Federation in 1963 and was presented the Silver Medal for outstanding service after his presidency of the Advertising Club of Columbus. In 1995 he was honored as Broadcaster of the Year by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters. He was past president of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus where he was a member of the Legion of Honor as well as a recipient of the George Hixson Fellow Award from Kiwanis International. Walton was a past chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Columbus and a member of numerous civic organizations. He was also very active in Ft. Benning's Allied Officers Training Program. One of his greatest joys in life was traveling the world with his beloved wife, Jo. He was a frequent Òon air performer including host of the United Negro College Fund Telethon and the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Walton was also Master of Ceremonies for numerous Miss America Scholarship preliminary pageants. For many years, Walton also emceed the Grand Stand Shows at the Chattahoochee Valley Fair. His love of broadcasting started at an early age. As a teenager, he built an operational radio station in the attic of his Atlanta home, which unknown to him required a radio license. A short- lived entrepreneurial effort, it was soon shut down by the FCC. Known for his beautiful broadcaster voice and his ability to speak more words in a 30-second spot than most broadcast talent, he earned the nickname, ÒRapid Robert.Ó His creative talents extended far beyond the microphone and camera. He was an accomplished artist and a prize-winning writer, especially in promoting local products and companies such as "Mr. Moo" for Wells Dairies and Bemco matresses. He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Sara Jo Williams Walton, a former Mrs. Columbus, Mrs. Georgia and Director of Conventions and Meetings at AFLAC.
Survivors include his son, Robert (Mitzi Oxford) Walton; daughters, Elizabeth "Beth" Walton and Brenda (Ken) Maxwell Hall; grandsons, John and Robert Maxwell, Robert Walton, James Hall and Brian Hall.
Walton was a long-time member of the Edgewood Church of Christ. While Walton loved all of his children, he held a soft spot in his heart for his middle daughter, Beth, who was born mentally handicapped. He and Jo, along with many others, worked hard to establish special education in Georgia for those with special needs, serving as the president of the Columbus and the Georgia Association for Retarded Children. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Bob Walton Memorial Fund at CB&T of Columbus to support special programs for Beth and her friends at the Therapeutic Recreation Program of Columbus Parks and Recreation.
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