William Robert "Bob" Horton, Jr. – July 4, 2012

William Robert “Bob” Horton, Jr., 100, of Amarillo died on Wednesday, July 4, 2012.
Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at the Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. with Dr. Stan Cosby, pastor of St. Stephen United Methodist Church, officiating. Private burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.
Mr. Horton was born November 12, 1911, in Maud, Oklahoma, to Dola King and William Robert Horton. His family moved frequently during the Great Depression but he graduated high school from Maud High in 1927. He married Minnie Barbee on March 12, 1935, and they had a daughter three years later. During World War II he worked in a McDonald Douglas plant in Oklahoma City, building bombers. He went to work for Phillips 66 in 1945 and moved his family to Borger, Texas. He was a faithful Phillips employee for 31 years. After retiring, he and his wife moved to Pampa to be closer to his daughter and her family. He was a regular spectator at his grandsons’ sporting events. They moved to Amarillo in 1986, again to be closer to family. A highlight of his retirement years was a trip to the Holy Land.
Over his lifetime he was a member of several Methodist churches, most recently St. Stephen UMC in Amarillo. He was a member of the Bridge Builders Sunday school class.
He enjoyed golfing, fishing, especially in the mountains, and was a skilled wing shot. He lovingly and patiently passed on his appreciation and knowledge of these pursuits to his grandsons.
He was a loyal and loving dad, granddad and great-granddad.
He was preceded in death by his wife Minnie, his parents, a brother and three sisters.
He is survived by a daughter, Sharon Simpson, of Amarillo; two grandsons, Paul Simpson and wife Lanie of Amarillo, and William Simpson and wife Kiki of Dallas; three great-grandchildren, Katie, Paden, and Emory; and much-loved nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorials be made to St. Stephen United Methodist Church Building Fund, 4600 S. Western, Amarillo, TX 79109.

One Reply to “William Robert "Bob" Horton, Jr. – July 4, 2012”

  1. My beloved great-uncle Bob, whom my grandpa Roy once coaxed me when I was very young into calling Grandpa Bob as a tease since he didn’t have grandchildren yet at the time. Those two were funny together. I loved visits to Borger because it meant getting to see Uncle Brown and Aunt Leona and Uncle Bob and Aunt Minnie. Growing up in the military meant we were always going somewhere. Seemed like every five minutes or so at certain points of the journey with mom and dad was like that. 21 moves in 18 years! Uncle Bob told me about holding lanterns out on the front of the car with Grandpa so Little Grandpa could see to drive. I still don’t know if it was a tall tale or not. Dad passed in 2015 so on my branch I’m the oldest living Horton. I’m thankful to still have Uncle Gary and Aunt Nancy and the connectivity option we do these days. Still not the same as those living room visits I remember so many years ago.

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