Funeral services for Thomas Jefferson “T. J.” Horton, 78, of Oxford, who passed away, July 29, 2009, were Aug. 1, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Miller Funeral Home Chapel, Oxford.
Graveside services followed at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery in Trussville at 2 p.m. Rev. Jim Etheredge officiated.
His family received friends July 30, 2009, from 6-8 p.m.
T.J. was born Oct. 19, 1930, in Columbiana. He joined the U.S. Navy, serving in the Korean War, and there receiving the Purple Heart while on the USS Cacapon.
Upon leaving the Navy, T.J. went to work for Vulcan Materials, where he remained for 38 years before retiring as the superintendent of the Oxford Quarry in 1993.
After retiring from Vulcan, T.J. spent his leisure time doing all kinds of work in his yard, keeping up with the lives of his children and grandchildren and spending long hours in the shade of his birthday oak tree with his neighbor “watching the world go by.”
He will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him, but memories of him will linger in our hearts for a long, long time.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Jefferson and Edna Spates Horton; brothers, Levi Marion Horton and Lawrence Eugene Horton; and father-in-law, Richard Peterson.
Mr. Horton is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Gloria P. Horton; children, John Thomas Horton, Richard Evan Horton (Renee), Tommie Anne Kirby, Eve Ann Wallace (Bryan); grandchildren, Adam Kirby (Carmen), Nicki Howard (Cullen), Whitney Ann Wallace, Tyler Scott Wallace, Addyson Dale Horton; great-grandchildren, Ryann Grace, Ragan Nicole, and Erin Ruth Howard, and Tyler Lauren, Ayden Wade and Trenton Alex Kirby; sister-in-law, Rosalyn P. Horton, mother-in-law, Evelyn T. Peterson; nephews, Lawrence Eugene Horton (Meredith), Richard Earnest Horton, four great nieces and two great nephews, his dog Shine and cat Fuzzie.
Pallbearers were Shad Williams, Larry Horton, Ricky Horton, Hunter Horton, Monty Wallace and Adam Kirby.
Honorary pallbearers were Bill Heard and Royce Kirby.
Personal condolences may be sent to millerfuneralhomeoxford.com.
Miller Funeral Home directed.