Billy Hugh Horton was born in Vinemont, Al. on April 9, 1931 to Floyd and Trudie Horton. He graduated from West Point High School in 1950.
He was a Corporal in the Army and served during the Korean War. He married Ann Manley in 1955.
They shared 61 happy years together. He retired from AT&T and lived life on his old family home place, tinkering with cars, farming and taking his homegrown vegetables to family, friends, and neighbors. Mr. Bill was highly respected by those whose lives he touched.
He and Ann raised two daughters, Kim Carr (Mike) of Northport, Al. and Kelly Magadan of Tuscaloosa, Al. He gave them the happiest of childhoods. He took the family to Panama City Beach every summer, to the Smoky Mountains every autumn and many points in between.
They built a log cabin on Smith Lake from old dismantled telephone poles, complete with putty in the cracks. He was always up for an adventure, teaching his girls to fish, water ski, and drive a stick shift. He could even ride a unicycle! Although he never had sons of his own, the two lights of his life were his grandsons, Jordan and Christian.
They kept the fishing tradition alive with catching some big bass in the pond in the pasture. They loved to tool around the farm on the 4 wheeler and go kart he got for them. Two city boys never had more fun than when helping Pa-Pa plow the fields on the big tractor. And they loved climbing into the tree house he built for them as well as digging into the dirt with the hoe that Pa-Pa made especially for them.
It's a treasure that as young adults they rediscovered in his shed and they proudly took home with them. Years ago he was a member of several hunting clubs and he was a master craftsman and could fix anything. After putting in a full day’s work, he would spend evenings in his self-built shop, making furniture and puttering about. He was blessed with a funny sense of humor and was generous to a fault.
Bill passed away at home on Feb. 18, 2016. He is survived by wife Ann, daughters Kim and Kelly, two grandsons, Jordan and Christian Magadan, sister Dot Johnson, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Trudie Horton, sister Honorine McKelvy, brothers Robert and Johnny Ray Horton. In lieu of flowers, he wished donations be made to the National Federation of the Blind, in memory of his nephew Charlie Johnson, with whom he had a very special and loving relationship.
Visitation will be Sun. Feb. 21, 2016 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Moss-Service Funeral Home in Cullman. A graveside service will be officiated by Rev. Tim Aris at 3:30 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery in Vinemont.
