Robert ‘Bob’ John Harbinson of Listowel, and formerly of Milverton, passed away at Listowel Memorial Hospital on Friday, September 15, 2023, in his 78th year.
Husband of Margaret (Schade) Harbinson. Father of Mary-Jane & Shane Ducsharm of Listowel, and Peter & Tiffany Harbinson of Monkton, and grandfather of Nola, Axl, Porter, and Greyson. Brother of Marie & David Shiels of Australia, and Sylvia Balmer, and Myrtle & Chris McCartney, all of Ballymena, Northern Ireland, and brother-in-law of Joe O’Hara of Ballymena, Marie Christie of Ballymoney, Carl & Sue Schade of Russeldale, John & Brenda Schade of Gadshill, Jean Schade & Dave Storey of Deep River, Mary & Wayne Koebel of Listowel, Barbara Schade of Stratford, David Schade & Candice Rogerson of Temagami, and Darren & Kristine Mueller of B.C. Remembered also by the Cochrane family. Bob was predeceased by his mother Carmena (Harbinson) Christie, brother Matt Christie, sister Libby O’Hara, sister-in-law Peggy Mueller, and by his nephew Danny Beale.
Robert John Harbinson was born in Ballymena, N Ireland on August 21, 1946. He arrived in Canada in January 1974, and came to work on a dairy farm for Cecil McCourt near Donegal. Bob befriended the Cochrane family and has remained the Irish branch of their family for 50 years. On June 23, 1979, he and Margaret were married. They lived in Milverton, where Bob was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, the Milverton Legion, Mornington Optimists, and volunteered with the Milverton Agriculture Society. Bob was the fry man at the Milverton Fair and Milverton Rodeo for many years, and also a proud member of the fire department in Milverton. Bob worked 15 years as a millwright. Bob will be remembered best by the children at St Peter’s as the man who shared his candies and the change from his pockets on Sunday mornings.
The funeral service will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Milverton, on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. The celebration of Bob’s life will continue at the Milverton Legion from 12:00 until 3:00 p.m. Interment in Greenwood Cemetery, Milverton.
Memorial donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Milverton, would be appreciated, and may be made through Eaton Funeral Home, Listowel. Online condolences may be left at www.eatonfuneralhome.ca
