Robert J. Sutton, 99, of Coopersburg, PA, passed away peacefully at The Village at LifeQuest, Quakertown, PA, November, 3, 2024. He was the husband of the late Marjorie A. (Moloney) Sutton.  They were married for 71 years.

Born in Scranton, PA, on February 18, 1925, he was the son of the late Fredrick and the late Ann Marie (Schneider) Sutton.

Robert was a 1942 graduate of Scranton Central High School, Scranton, PA. After high school, Robert was accepted to the dental school of the University of Pennsylvania, and he started his undergraduate studies that year.

In 1943, he was drafted into the Navy during WWII and reported to basic training at Samson, NY.  He then went to Memphis, TN, to become an avionic ordnances technician.  He was then assigned to Jackson, FL, and Dahlgren, VA, where he was involved in weapon and bomb testing. He was discharged in 1946.  He was a proud veteran and loved telling stories about his time in the Navy.

After his discharge from the Navy, Robert resumed his studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1952 with a DDS degree in dentistry.

He moved to Coopersburg in 1952 with his wife Marjorie and established his dental practice on South Main Street. He practiced dentistry for 39 years and retired in 1991.  He had a passion for helping those in need of dental care, even if they were unable to pay in full.
He volunteered at many dental clinics in the area, including at Sacred Heart Hospital, the Southern Lehigh School District, the Sacred Heart Home in Coopersburg, and the Muhlenberg Hospital Dental Clinic, where he taught dental residents.  He was a life-long learner and received his FAGD in 1984. He was always willing to explain his process of creating dentures.

He was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Joseph's Church, Limeport, PA, for 72 years, where he volunteered for many years as part of the church cleaning group and choir. Every week he brought his tool bag and repaired many of the pews and kneelers. He was a lector and Eucharistic minister for many years.  He attended daily Mass, and prayed the rosary daily.  He also attended weekly benediction at the Carmelite Monastery for decades.  Robert had a special connection with the sisters at the Monastery, having once served as their dentist.
As a boy, he grew up only blocks away from the St. Ann's Basilica in Scranton, a church whose annual novena held a special place in his heart.  His mother attended the first ever novena in 1924 when she was pregnant with Robert, and a member of the family has been present at almost every novena since then each July.

He was known for his kindness, deep faith, and sense of humor, and told many interesting stories about growing up in Scranton, his time in the Navy and dental school. He enjoyed family vacations in Ocean City, NJ, and at his cottage in Holiday Pocono, near Albrightsville, PA. He truly loved spending time with his grandchildren and never missed a game, recital, performance, birthday or holiday party, graduation, sacrament, or special Mass.

In his retirement, Robert took up many interesting hobbies, including drawing pictures and fishing with his grandchildren, cooking, and even had a brief stint as a 5th grade CCD teacher at St. Joseph's.  He loved to cook, often making frozen meals for his grandchildren, and experimenting with different recipes for homemade bread. His famous pumpkin chiffon pie has been a staple at many Thanksgiving celebrations. He also loved to cook meals for the sisters at the Carmelite Monastery; their favorite crabcake.

He was predeceased by his son John T. Sutton and his wife Marjorie Ann (Moloney) Sutton.

Survivors: Children: Kathleen F. (Sutton) Sobkow and her husband Ernest of Lansdale, PA; Stephen Sutton of Breinigsville, PA; daughter-in-law Regina Sutton of Bethlehem, PA; Grandchildren: Jennifer Camponelli and her husband Vince Sr., and children Jolie Straight, Vince Jr., of Middletown, DE; Carolyn Fujita and her husband Michael, sons Parker, Dylan, River, of Portland, OR; Michael Sobkow and his wife Tamara, daughter Abigail, of Bridgeport, PA; Alexander Sobkow and his wife Courtney, of Valley Forge, PA; Patrick Sutton of Kempton, PA; and Paige Sutton-Smith and her husband Dylan of Lehighton, PA.

A visitation will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 from 9-10 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5050 St. Joseph Road, Coopersburg, PA 18036, with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 10 am in the church.  Interment will follow at St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery.

Contributions: to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5050 St. Joseph Road, Coopersburg, PA 18036