Judge Robert M. Short

Judge Robert M. Short, 74 of Owensboro, died Friday, December 16, 2005 at his residence after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer. He was the 20th Judge of the Daviess Circuit Court and at the time of his retirement had served longer than any other judge in the history of the Circuit Court in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Judge Short was born in Middleburg, Casey County, Kentucky, on August 19, 1931, the son of Lester and Martha Fogle Short. He attended schools there graduating from high school in 1949. He attended Western Kentucky University and received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Kentucky (UK) in 1954 and his Juris Doctor from the UK College of Law in 1956. He then served four years as a Staff Judge Advocate with the U.S. Air Force, serving as a First Lieutenant in Okinawa, Japan. In 1960 he moved to Owensboro to practice law with the firm of Humphreys, Jones, Short, and Wilson. During his practice, he also served as Judge Pro Tem and Trial Commissioner of the Daviess Quarterly Court and was active in affairs of the local and state Bar Associations. After being appointed to the Circuit Court bench in 1974, he graduated from the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. Throughout his career, he was known for his fairness and sharp wit in the courtroom.

Judge Short had a wide array of talents and interests and was an accomplished artist, astronomer, guitarist, historian and genealogist. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Betty Anne Schroer Short, his daughters and sons-in-law, Julie and Steve Taylor of Louisville, Sarah and Marty Walker of Owensboro, and Mary Kay and Kendall Weihe of Goshen, KY, his brother and sister-in-law, William L. and Betty Short of Shelbyville, KY, his grandchildren, Zach, Emily, and Josh Taylor of Louisville, Matthew, Anna, and Hadley Walker of Owensboro, Kate, Kelsey, Kendall, and Cecilia Weihe of Goshen; his great-grandchild, Miles Taylor of Louisville; and several aunts, nieces and nephews.

Services are 2:30 P.M. Tuesday, December 20, 2005 at Glenn Funeral Chapel with Rev. Steve Cripps officiating. Burial will immediately follow in Resurrection Cemetery with military honors provided by VFW Post 696. Visitation will be 3-8 P.M. Monday, December 19, 2005 and after 11 A.M. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care or the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art . Online messages of condolence may be left at www.glennfuneralhome.com.