Wallace Vincent Horton

Wallace Vincent Horton, long-time resident of Hamilton, died Thursday, July 3, 2008, in Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva, IL. Wallace was born in Versailles, IN, to Willa Belle Chandler and James Erby Horton on June 25, 1923. He celebrated his 85th birthday the week prior to his passing. Wallace graduated from Versailles High School in 1941 and attended business school in Indianapolis. After Pearl Harbor Day, he went to work for a year at Austin Construction Company, a Naval ordnance plant in Indiana, until he enlisted in the United States Army, eventually earning a commission as a second lieutenant and becoming a pilot in the Army Air Corps. He was a mail carrier in Versailles and owned a Standard Oil route in the Dillsboro, IN, area before working at the Hamilton Fisher Body plant for 25 years. He enjoyed more than 30 years of retirement, spending time with family and friends, fishing, camping, playing cards, and building and fixing things. He was a lifetime member of Leora Ware post of the American Legion in Versailles and a past member of the Versailles Lions Club and the Ripley County Zoning Board. He married Edna Mae Collinsworth on November 29, 1944, in New Marion. They raised five children in Indiana and Hamilton, and moved back to Versailles in 1986, spending winters in Florida for a number of years. He nursed Edna through a long illness before her death in 1999. Wallace is survived by his loving and cherished wife of seven years, Marian Stoudt Horton, with whom he has resided in recent years in Shabbona, IL and Everglades City, FL. Also surviving are his children Sandra (Roger) Parrett, Liberty, IN; Joan (Russell) Fox, Liberty Township, OH; Marcia (John) Oke, Monroe, OH; James (Mary) Horton, West Point, VA; and Robert Horton, Liberty Township, OH. Left to cherish memories of their Papaw are 12 grandchildren: Lori Parrett Johnson (Frank Shoker) and Miranda Parrett (Ruben) Vasquez; Angela Fox (Mark) Heisten and Katherine Fox; Randy (Kristin) Gaspar and Evan Gaspar; Stephanie, Kathleen, and Emma Horton; and Alex, Carrie, and Sam Horton. Wallace was blessed with eight great-grandchildren, (Jacquie, Liza, Zac, Michael, Aidan, Ronan, Asher, and Griffin) and two great-great-grandchildren (Kaylee and Kyra). Wallace is also survived by his sister Maxine Jarvis and many other relatives and friends. Wallace was preceded in death by his brother Clifford Horton and a great grandson Levi. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 9 at 11am at the Stratton Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. David Shivers of the Hopewell Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in the Tanglewood Cemetery with military graveside rites by the Versailles American Legion. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm. Memorials may be given to the Tanglewood Cemetery.