Robert John Paton

Robert “Bob” John Paton, 75 of Waterdown Ontario, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 21, 2025, following complications with dementia. A devoted husband, father, sports enthusiast, Harley Davidson rider and friend, Bob will be remembered for his quick wit and unwavering love for his family. 

Born on March 29, 1950 in Toronto, Ontario, to Doris and John Paton, Bob grew up with a love for music, riding his motorcycle and getting under the hood of a car, especially his Ford GTO to see what he could tinker with. He may have also been known to get into some “innocent” hijinks, including the time he somehow managed to ride his motorcycle up the stairs of his parents’ home and right into the front door. He was thankful for his sister Patricia balancing out the behavior at home to keep the level of chaos to a minimum.

Bob would go on to meet the love of his life, Elizabeth (Beth) Cottrell when the two were introduced by Beth’s sister, Debbie. Beth and Bob, or Toots and Boom, that they called each other, were married on August 6, 1977 at Christ United Church and were closing in on their 50th wedding anniversary at the time of Bob’s passing.

Bob and Beth spent a few years in Mississauga, bringing their two boys Derek and Matthew into the world before moving the family to Waterdown, a small but now vastly growing town, in Hamilton. Through the years of raising the kids, you could almost always find the entire family in one of two places: a hockey arena or on a baseball field. Bob and Beth devoted their parenting years to coaching, scorekeeping, keeping track of “shots on goal” typically inflating them for one of their two goalie sons, or cheering from the bleachers. This was their way of life and it brought them much happiness!

Bob was an athlete himself, playing both hockey and baseball for decades with the Burlington Oldtimers, where he celebrated many championships and created many memories and lifelong friendships.

Bob devoted his career to sales for Comp Air Canada, where he found great success and forged many valuable relationships.

Bob is survived by his wife, Beth, sons Derek Paton (Parker) and Matthew Paton, and grandchildren Drew, Sidney, Paige, Tyler and Dylan.