Robert Horvath

Robert “Bruno” Thomas Horvath

May 19, 1930 – January 10, 2019

Robert “Bruno” Thomas Horvath, 88, passed away January 10, 2019 after a long fight with Alzheimer’s and is now dancing with the angels.  He was born in Mentmore, New Mexico on May 19, 1930 to Lilly Mae Cates and John Gilbert Horvath Sr.  They moved to Farmington in 1937.  He attended Farmington High School where he played football and graduated in 1950. He attended Ft. Lewis College where he played football and his teammates gave him the nickname “Bruno the Bear” and later shortened to Bruno.  After graduating, he started working for El Paso Natural Gas Company in 1953 and retired after 33 years.  He was a part of the Army National Guard and was deployed to Germany.  He married Jennie Hansberry in August 1953.  They had four daughters Janie, Bobby, Judy and Becky.  He coached YAFL football for several years and ran the chain for FHS football games for many years.  He ran a small farm in Flora Vista for several years where he raised animals and produce.  He raised and raced horses for many years.   He also lived in Missouri and Albuquerque for a short period of time.  He was a member of Buckles & Bowes Square Dance Club from 1961-1968.  Dancing was a passion in his life and won a dance contest at the Country Palace.  He danced until he was 88.  A highlight was dancing with Governor Susana Martinez in 2014 at the TGIF festivities.  He was a member of the PIC Investment Firm.  He is preceded in death by his mother, Lilly Mae and father John Gilbert Horvath, Sr., sister Mary Schofield, brother John Horvath Jr. and sister Eleanor Gibson.  He is survived by his two brothers, Raymond Horvath, George Horvath and two sisters, Bertha Peden and Edie Bukovec.  He is also survived by his daughters Janie (Rick) Durrett, Bobby Horvath, Judy (Randall) Hale and Becky (Steve) Smith, five grandkids and eight great grandkids.  A special thanks to his caregivers Carrie Griffin, Kim Scherer, Bea Archuleta, Linda Wilson and especially longtime friend and caregiver Joann McCracken who took such good care of him.  Memorial services will be held on February 1, 2019 at Farmington Funeral Home at 10:30 am, with a reception to follow at Gateway Museum. Interment will follow at 2:00 pm, at Greenlawn Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.