Robert W. Haberman, 90

TILTON — Robert Wendell Haberman, 90, a longtime resident of Tilton, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, at the Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia following a period of failing health.

Bob was born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, June 23, 1927, son of Carl Ian and Lena (Parkhurst) Haberman.

He graduated from Lowell (Massachusetts) High School, class of 1945, and joined the Navy soon after. Bob then attended Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, where he received his engineering education. His first job was at General Electric.

In December 1953, Bob traveled to San Diego, intending to go into the painting/contracting business with his friend, Carver Tripp. There, Bob met his wife, Sylvia, in a paint store where she was in charge of the Western Union agency. They married six months later, on June 27, 1954, and were blessed to have nearly 64 years of loving marriage.

They have two daughters, Sue (husband, Robert Vanderbeck) of Nashua, and Wendy of Allendale New Jersey; and a son, Robert Jr. of San Mateo, California. Sue and Bob have two children, Quinn and Kim; and Wendy has two children, Jared and Ethan.

Their lifetime with horses began in 1958, starting 45 years of raising, breeding and showing horses. In 1970, they moved from southern California to Enosburg Falls, Vermont, purchasing a 200-acre farm, taking six horses with them.

Bob attended UVM and obtained his teaching degree in 1974, after which time he taught engineering classes, in junior/senior high schools for the next eight years in Vermont. They moved to New Hampshire in 1977 where he taught in state Community Colleges in Claremont, Laconia and Manchester.

In 1985, they purchased a farm in Tilton. In 1988, Bob retired from teaching and put his focus into his horses and extensive community involvement, including the Tilton Planning Board. Bob was very involved with the United Methodist Church of Tilton where he sang in the choir, expressing his lifelong love of — and gift for — singing. The church and church family have been very important to Bob and Sylvia throughout the years.

Bob was known to be a quiet and kind man with many attributes. One of seven children, Bob was predeceased by a sister, Beverly Haberman; and brothers Edwin, Donald and Burt Haberman.

He leaves his wife of almost 64 years, Sylvia (Hall) Haberman of Tilton; daughters, Sue Vanderbeck and her husband, Robert of Nashua, Wendy Haberman of Allendale, New Jersey; his son, Robert W. Haberman Jr. of San Mateo, California; four grandchildren; a brother, Warren Haberman of Raymond; a sister, Carlene Buote of Dracut, Massachusetts; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Calling hours will not take place. A service to celebrate Bob’s life will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. in the Tilton-Northfield United Methodist Church, 400 West Main St., in Tilton. A luncheon will follow in the undercroft of the church. Bob will be interred at a later date at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen.

It is the family’s wish that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to: T-N United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 119 Tilton, NH 03276-0476.

For more information, go to www.smartfuneralhome.com.