Dr. Robert (Bob) L. Bratton

On August 31, 2022, Dr. Robert L. Bratton (Bob) passed from this life to the next. He was a devoted husband and life-long friend to his wife of 60 years; a supportive and loving father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend; and one of the nicest people around. He loved to laugh and put a smile on peoples faces. Bob was an inspiration and role model to many. To know him was to love and respect him.

Bob grew up in Kokomo, Indiana and graduated from Kokomo High School in 1956. He attended Indiana University, Bloomington and received a B.S. in Education. He taught High School business courses for several years before going to Indiana University School of Dentistry where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. He opened his dental practice in Carmel, Indiana in 1969 and also began serving as an adjunct faculty member at the School of Dentistry. He retired from his private dental practice in 2000 but continued to teach at the IU School of Dentistry until just a few years ago.

While Bob was an accomplished dentist, his true passion was art. Without formal training in art, he began taking adult education classes, workshops, and studied watercolor with local accomplished artists while in retirement.

Bob was a Cardinal Fellow member of the Watercolor Society of Indiana and a past president; a member of the Hamilton County Artists Association; The Hoosier Salon; Indiana Artists Club; Between Paper & Palette Art Club; Northwest Watercolor Society; RAM; and Indiana Heritage Arts. He has exhibited at the Indiana State Fair; The Hoosier Salon annual juried exhibit; WSI annual juried and member exhibits, Indiana Artists’ Club annual juried and member exhibits, Hamilton Co. Art Center, The Carmel-Clay, Crawfordsville, and Kokomo Public Library, the Richmond Indiana Art Museum, Indiana Heritage Arts, Second Presbyterian Church Indianapolis, and other venues.

He has won various awards including merit awards for watercolor and “Best Scene” and “People’s Choice” award in the Hoosier Salon; the Presidents’ Award and the George Elliott Memorial Award in the Watercolor Society of Indiana’s annual juried exhibit; merit awards in the Indiana Artists annual juried exhibit; the Indiana State Fair and the Will Vawter exhibit in Greenfield, IN. His studio is in his home in Carmel, Indiana. He has been published in the national watercolor art publication “Splash 19”.

You can view some of his work at robertbrattonart.com.

Bob was also a member of the Circus Model Builders. He had a life-long love of the circus. He combined that love of the circus with his artistic talent and made miniature circus wagons, painting each one by hand.

Bob is survived by his life-long best friend and wife of 60 years Sally Bratton; his two sons and their spouses John and Patricia Bratton and Eric Bratton and Ed Wang; eight grandchildren – Nicole, Aubrey, Daniel, Chelsea, Lucas, Lynette, Sy, and Ayla; and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by countless friends.

Family and friends are invited to gather from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Tuesday, September 6 at Flanner Buchanan-Carmel.  Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Wednesday, September 7 at Second Presbyterian Church, with additional visitation at 9:00 am until the time of service. Burial to follow at Carmel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Watercolor Society of Indiana. Please visit www.flannerbuchanan.com to sign the online guest register.