Robert R. Botkin died on Monday, February 17, 2025, at his home in Lexington, Kentucky.

Dr. Botkin had a thirty-four-year career in higher education beginning as an assistant professor of philosophy and religion at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. He ended his tenure there as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1985 he was appointed president of Midway College, now University. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from LaGrange College in Georgia, a Bachelor of Divinity degree and Doctor of Philosophy degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He retired from Midway College in 1998 as President Emeritus.

During his academic career he was awarded several honors which included the Robert R. Botkin endowed chair at Midway College, Woodford County Hall of Fame Award, and the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce Award for Distinguished Service in Education. He was further awarded the Boss of the Year Award by the Lexington Chapter of American Business Women's Association and the Distinguished Faculty Member at East Tennessee State University. He published several articles in various professional journals and presented scholarly papers to associations, symposia, and convocations. He also wrote a history of Midway College.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, former East Prairie resident, Marilyn Schneider Botkin, daughter of the late George Howard and Faye Presson Schneider.

Also surviving are his son Jeffrey Howard Botkin of Gainesboro, Tennessee, his daughter, Mary Carmen Amato and son-in-law, Robert Amato of Frankfort, Kentucky. Three beloved grandchildren, Robert Alexander Amato, Mary Grace Amato both of Louisville, Kentucky, and Anna Katherine Amato, student at Bellarmine University in Louisville will remember his unconditional love, his enjoyment of fishing which resulted in raucous fish fries and his beautiful prayers of thanksgiving around family tables.

Other survivors include his sister in law and brother in law, Cherie Schneider Dodson and Burke Dodson of rural Charleston, MO.

He provided family and friends with asparagus and an abundance of blackberries from his garden. He instructed and inspired adult learners in his Sunday School class enough years to have completed a trip through the whole of the Old and New Testaments.

Family and friends may assemble for a graveside committal service at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 8, 2025, at the Dogwood Cemetery in the Dogwood Community of Mississippi County, MO.

Interment will follow under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.