Finas Wade ( Joe ) Horton

F.W. (Joe) Horton and his wife of 62 years, Ferdel Spielman Horton (deceased 2008), had three daughters: Marcia Belle Horton Smith of Round Rock, Texas, Velma Jo Horton Rivers (deceased 2006), and Rosemary Horton Cone of Austin, Texas. They also had three grandchildren: Amanda Jo Rivers, Joseph Carson Smith, and Charles Wayne Rivers. Two sons-in-law loved him dearly also: Darryl Carson Smith, and Jimmy Joe Cone (deceased 2010).

Finas Wade (Joe) Horton was born in the small east Texas town of Fairfield, Texas, (population 1,049) on February 8, 1921, to Isaac Fred Horton and Velma Estelle Lambert Horton. His mother died when he was a year old. He was the youngest of three brothers: Charlie Fred Horton (deceased 1985) and Robert Durwood Horton of El Cajon, CA. (deceased 2011). Finas was the first member of his family to graduate from high school and later college. While at Fairfield High School he was active in sports, participating in football, basketball, and track. He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1939 in a class of 21 graduating students.

F.W. (Joe) Horton left home the day of High School graduation, and worked in a bakery in Houston, Texas, for two years. He joined the United States Navy in 1941, and was nicknamed 'Joe' while in the Navy. He served his country a total of seven years, and ultimately achieved the rank of Chief Quarter Master in Communications during the Korean War. After WW ll, F.W. (Joe) Horton went to college on the G.I. Bill as a Naval Reserve Officer. He went to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, for two years, and was then re-located to the University of Texas at Austin for two more years, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Psychology. While working on his college degree, he met the love of his life, Ferdel Spielman, and married her in 1946. They were married sixty-two and a half years before her death on October 30, 2008.

After graduation in 1948 from the University of Texas at Austin, F.W. (Joe) Horton began teaching. During the summers between teaching years, he achieved his Master of Arts degree in History and Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1953. He also accumulated 36 hours toward a Ph.D. in Education Administration.

F.W. (Joe) Horton served a total of thirty-six years in the teaching profession where he was successively: Classroom teacher in Odessa High School in Odessa, Texas (1948-1951), classroom teacher at Austin High School in Austin, Texas (1952-53), Visiting Teacher for Travis County Schools of Texas (one year), Assistant Travis County School Superintendent of Texas (eight years), and finally after a public election, became Travis County School Superintendent of Texas in 1962. F.W. (Joe) Horton served as Travis County School Superintendent for sixteen years, until the office was eliminated by the Texas Legislature in 1978. He also served as President of the County School Superintendents Association for the State of Texas.

F.W. (Joe) Horton served as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at University Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, for over thirty years. He was an upstanding man of the community and church, and was dearly loved by all who knew him. He was generous with flowers, garden vegetables, affection, and caring for family, neighbors, and friends. He was a big man with a big heart, and will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to your favorite charity, or to his favorite: THE SALVATION ARMY. The funeral service, conducted by the Reverend Vicki Joy McClure, was held at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd. in Austin, Texas on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 2:00 PM. Immediately after the service, interment followed with military honors as he was laid to rest beside his beloved wife at Capital Memorial Park, 14519 IH 35 North, Pflugerville, Texas.

The family wishes to give special thanks for the kindness and gentle care our Daddy was given in his final year by SCOTT AND WHITE HOSPICE OF GEORGETOWN, in particular Cheryl, Olga, Vicki, and Dr. Moffitt. A special thank you to Claudia of VISITING ANGELS, who did above and beyond what she had to, including yard work to Daddy's everlasting delight.

Learn more about Finas Wade (Joe) Horton, in his pictorial / narrative biography: A Depression Boy's Journey To Become A 21st Century Man - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF FINAS WADE (JOE) HORTON. It is an enjoyable read and available on this site. http://d3trabu2dfbdfb.cloudfront.net/stored_files/JoeHortonStory.pdf" target= "_blank" >Click here to read the biography

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