Robert Thomas Warburton

WARBURTON – Robert “Bobby” Thomas Warburton took his last breath on Earth and his first breath in Heaven on
Monday, December 30, 2024. He was born on July 20, 1952 in Richmond, Virginia to Kenneth Newton Warburton
and Shirley Rowsey Warburton. He was the first of two sons and is predeceased by his younger brother, Jeffery Lee
Warburton and his parents. He graduated from Highland Springs High School in 1971 and enlisted in the United
States Marine Corps on April 10, 1971. On June 23, 1973, he married the love of his life, Brenda Faye Gery, and
made Richmond their home. There he got his plumbing license and began working for Roto Rooter. In 1979, he
bought the Roto Rooter franchise in Raleigh and moved their family there where they remained until 2016 when
they moved to Myrtle Beach. He had experienced 6 heart attacks from the time he was 30 years old and triple
bypass surgery in 2016. His cardiologist told him he COULD NOT KEEP WORKING SO HARD. His desire then was to
move to the beach and let his only worry in the world be is the tide gonna reach his chair. Together, they loved and
raised their children, Karen Denise Johnson (Jack) of Stem, NC and Robert Travis Warburton (Linda) of Raleigh, NC.
Nothing in the world meant more to him than to provide for his family and love them every minute of every day. He
loved his children so much; and his grandchildren, Bradley Steele Johnson (Chelsea), Phillip Austin Johnson (Jelena),
Teagan Renee Warburton, and Sean Ryder Warburton. The newest lights of his life were his great-granddaughters,
Olivia Locklyn Johnson, Lillian Denise Johnson, and Charli Alice Johnson who brought him so much joy as he held and
played with them. Also left to cherish his memory are his sister-in-law, Kim “Bunny” Warburton Southerland, his
brother-in-law, David Gery (Amy), and his sweet nieces, Casey, Joni, and Nicole. His sweet Pug, Millie, hasn’t quite
come to grips with what is going on, but she sure did love her Daddy. His greatest love was his wife, Brenda, to
whom he was a loving, caring, and devoted husband for over 51 years. He was a no-nonsense, rule-following,
devoted-family-loving, hard-working, guy who actually had a sense of humor but hid it well. Brenda had enough for
both of them. They complimented each other nicely with his down-to-earth seriousness and her slightly outrageous
self. He lived his life in a way that taught his family the meaning of respect, strength, total devotion, tenacity, and a
fabulous work ethic that his whole family carries forward. He was always there for each and every one of us as we
called for Bobby, Bob, Daddy, Grandpa, or Papa; he would be right there and do whatever was necessary to get us
through. His legacy to his family is our total devotion and love for each other that he taught us and our ability to
stand tall and persevere. Our lives are so much richer for him having been in them and our world will from now on
be darker because of his absence. In addition to the above family members, his Ocean Creek Plantation friends and
neighbors have been such a blessing in cherishing his memory and providing and being there for his family as they
navigate this difficult journey. He saw him growing weary, a cure not meant to be. He wrapped him in His loving
arms and whispered, “Come with Me.” He told the nurse he saw his parents. We were there with him holding his
hands as he left this world and stepped into the arms of Jesus and his parents. In lieu of flowers, please go to your
nearest assisted living facility and visit an elderly person; it will make their day . . . and yours.
McMillan-Small Funeral Home, Inc. of Myrtle Beach is kindly and caringly handling the arrangements. At his request,
there will be a private ceremony with his family at County Line Campground at Kerr Lake in North Carolina where his
beloved ashes will be scattered at a place where he spent so many happy, fun-filled days camping with his family
and good friends, Monte and Sue, Glenn and Ginger, and Debbie and Chuck.
We are the Rememberers, the people left behind, to keep the one who’s gone from us alive in heart and

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