Horton, John Birge – d. 2002

BENSON, CORNWELL, HORTON, MCKNIGHT, WATSON

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:29

Eugene, Ore. – John Birge Horton, 85, of Eugene, Ore., formerly of Colfax, died of congestive heart failure following hip surgery Sunday, April 28, at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene.
The body was cremated and services were held in Eugene Friday. Local memorial services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Walters-Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax. Burial will be at McKeever Cemetery in Colfax.
Family visitation is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the memorial service. The family has established a memorial fund in his name.
The son of John D. and Lizzie Jane (Benson) Horton. He lived in Colfax most of his life, spending the last four years in Eugene, Ore. He had retired from the Colfax Construction Company, which he founded and owned. On Oct. 10, 1940, he married Lucille McKnight in Osceola. He later married Elizabeth (Betty) Cornwell in Eugene, Ore.
Mr. Horton served during World War II in a construction battalion (Seabees) in the United States Navy. He was a member of the Howard Street Christian Church in Colfax, a member of the Prescott Masonic Lodge of Prairie City and the American Merchant Marines Veterans Association of Eugene, was past commander of the Jones-Willis American Legion Post of Colfax and past district president of the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association.
He enjoyed wintering in Mesa, Ariz., helping his neighbors during planting and harvest seasons and was an avid sports fan.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Richard of Colfax and John (Wayne) of Clive; a niece regarded as a daughter, Sue Watson of Marion; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife.
Source: Newton Daily News; May 7, 2002