Mr. Bill with us for Christmas dinner on Kolven Cove. 
He was just like family❤️

Silver Star awarded 2 times
Bronze Star 
Air Medal
Purple Heart
Army Commendation
Army Good Conduct (multiple)
National Defense Service
Vietnam Service 3 tours
Republic of Vietnam Campaign
Blue Ribbon RT Chest Army
Presidential Unit Citation


Blue cord RT shoulder for Infantry
Follow me patch LT shoulder for Infantry School
Three hashes' Lower RT arm, 3 tours in Nam
Six hashes LT arm one for every 3 years, Willard had 6 for 18 years but he did 20 so he wasn't given a seventh one. 

Flag draped over his Coffin, his brother (Price Lee) Served in Korea and was killed in an accident shortly after he returned home. This flag was presented to his parents, and Willard had wished for this flag to be draped over his coffin at the time of his Funeral. Willard had this flag for many years. 

I sure hope Taps is played during his burial, he told me several times that is what he wanted. 

I served for 8 years, Willard and I spoke about the Military every time when I would call him. Just last Winter he stated we both would be ready to go if we were called to serve. He was a Warrior until the end.

Rest Easy MSG Horton. 

Great Nephew 
Lance Evans

It’s so sad when someone leaves our life .. 
it takes time to sink in. 
I’m sorry we didn’t see him before he died. 
Scripture says “ to be absent from the body is PRESENT WITH THE LORD” and Mr. Will is definitely with Jesus. 
I do find comfort in knowing that even though we all so so sad . 
Me and David were talking, he’s probably telling Jesus the Gates of Heaven are not lined up perfectly  centered ..Mr. Bill is  the new architect & strategic designer of the streets of Gold. 
  I know as he left this life to his eternal life, Jesus said “ Well done my Good and faithful servant whom I’m well pleased. 
Mr. Bill was a good man, disciplined, good steward and walk in humility, kindness & gentleness. 
He is with his wife now & Jenny 
Whole and healthy
We were some of the few that were truly blessed to be his friend & we will all see him again . 
I’m forever very grateful .

Mr. Bill and my grandmother at one of our family Thanksgivings.  Mr. Bill was the kindest neighbor,  always helping everyone  on our street with their trash cans and packages.  We laughed a lot about making candy (my favorite the peanut butter logs, yummy), he taught me how to catch squirrels, we listened to Willy Nelson in the car in the garage and ate skinny pop popcorn with Abby.  He loved and missed his Jenny dog and family, talking about them often.   Rest in peace until we meet again. 🙏💔🇺🇸

Uncle Willard, you wouldn't believe how many times I picked up the phone to call you and realized I couldn't. Like today to tell you I turned the heat on in the house this morning because it was cold and you would have laughed at me.  Or to tell you the Moulton (where you was raised) Jamboree I was going on this weekend , and to remind you of the time you took me and my sister Patsy on the Ferris wheel and we got stuck for a bit on the top.  I can't talk to you anymore. But I love you. Your neighbors loved you. Your neighbors took such care of you . I will forever be grateful to them. Good by Uncle Willard. I will see you again someday.  Rest well.

Mr Bill was the best neighbor anyone could ever have. When we were working he would walk up and down the street and take our garbage cans back to the house. If we were out of town he would collect our mail. He was like family. Always enjoyed having him at the West and Noell thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners. When it came time to help Mr Bill his friends were always there. I cannot count all of the times that Leigh Ann west took him to Doctor Appointments, did his grocery shopping, trips to miles to go to get what he wonted for lunch. When she could not do those things Mr and Mrs Rick Garcia, Mr and Mrs David Abbott and Jimmy were ready willing and able to help and they did for years not his stepson Randy. Gary Noell spent a lot of time working on Mr Bills house just so he could spend time with him and also made sure Mr Bill had a nice flag hanging from the front of the house.  Me as well as all of his friends and neighbors are truly going to miss this great man.

My wife Patricia and I had been across the street neighbors on two different occasions from Mr. Bill these past five years. I cannot say enough about how kind and gentle Mr. Bill was to us.  He used a recycling can we had and would take our trash can from the curb to the house for us, while we were at work.  
It always amazed me how he kept a daily schedule and was able to do so with his physical disability. I always knew when he was up, as his garage door would be open halfway.  Mr. Bill would let his fur-baby out for a while (until it passed), start the old truck in the garage to run for a while.  Mr. Bill would then take his Chrysler 500 out for a spin around the subdivision.  I always laughed at his personal war with the squirrels on his property.  He told me several times that he was tired of them messing with his house and was making sure they would be going to squirrel-heaven.  After lunch, provided by his friends the (Noell’s) and neighbors the garage door would go down and he took a nap.
I am sorry that I did not get a chance to say a proper goodbye to Mr. Bill as he was not home and my beautiful wife of 53 years Pat passed two weeks before Mr. Bill.
Thank you for service to our country Master Sergeant (Ret.) Willard Horton.
Jon C. Lafferty
CW4(R), U.S. Army
Comrade-in-Arms

Too bad he never mentioned all of the steps.  I never met any of them except Randy.  He would only show up occasionally for money.  He never helped him.  He showed up at the end and magically changed everything over to him and cut his niece out of the picture.  Barb and Darr were always there for him.  They would come down and care for him when he was sick.  Not the steps. They were no where around.

Why does the obituary not list his biological daughters?  It seems that the steps have taken over.  This is not his wish.  He has commented on them many times.

He wanted his Daughters and his family listed. They lived and he loved them.  They were all a big part of his life. Three of his baby girls died as infants, his daughter Jackie died in 2019 and was in his life. They all deserve to be mentioned. That's what he wanted. We discussed this several times.

Uncle Willard was also preceded in death by his four daughters. Lucy, Jackie, Penny and Jamie. Also his sister's Dorathy and Gertie, his Brother's Noble and PFC Price. He is survived by his sister Daisy and niece Barbara and her husband Dar.

This man was so good, he would actually cut my grass while I was at work.  After knee replacement surgery! He was a hell of a man and friend!

Mr. Bill has always expressed to family and friends that he wanted to be buried in full uniform.  He kept it pressed  and made sure it was ready.  He also wanted taps played and a flag that he has draped over his coffin.   I truly pray that he gets his wishes.  He deserves it.

David & Leslie Abbott, long time neighbors of Mr. Will. we found out that he was not only a great neighbor to us but also good to alot of others. He would go out of his way to helping the people on his street. Do not know how many times l would see him pushing other people's garbage can's back up to their house during the day when they weren't there. Both of us were Army  veterans and although his military career was alot more "Impressive" than mine we still loved talking about the day's in the army. Mr.Will was also a big Nascar fan and we would set in his living room and of talk about our favorite drivers. Mr.Will also enjoyed watching SEC football, both being ALABAMA fan's  we would always act as we knew more than the coaches and voice or own opinions of what they should have done but I guess that's just arm chair coaching. Mr. Will loved his truck always making sure everything was just right, and if it wasn't he would come get with me to fix whatever was wrong. I had the pleasure of working on it quite often, Mr. Will was a perfectionist. Mr. Will also loved Willie's Roadhouse on SiriusXm radio. He would loose the channel on his radio and drive by 3 or 4 times a week and get me to reset it, going to miss those days. Alot of other neighbors aways made sure he plenty to eat, some would bring him food, some would go the grocery store for him, others would take him for doctors visits we all helped him because he helped us when he was able. Leslie and I would go to North Georgia to the farmers market and when we got back home  Leslie always made sure he got some good home cooking. While we were up at Jaemor farms we would always get a box of peach pies. We always made sure to get some for him. The other week I took him some asked him if he wanted me to put them  in refrigerator for later and his responce was I'm going to eat one right now. Me and Leslie will miss him alot, Mr. Will was a "Great Man". Rest on everlasting peace. We love you.

Taken from Barbs post and moved out so that everyone should be able to find and read.  It really should be out front on the main obituary.  

Willard D. Horton, son of Mack and Lizzie Horton was born February 6 1935 in a coal mining village of Dean Iowa . Willard graduated in the spring of 53. In 1960 he fulfilled his dream and joined the Army. He served to tours in Vietnam and received the purple heart . His family that has gone on before him were his parents, his lovely wife Mae his four daughters Lucy, Jackie, Penny, and Jamie. Also preceding him in death was his brother Richard, Pfc Price,Noble, sisters Dorothy and Gertie. Survivor's include his sister Daisy and her family, niece Barbara and Dar and their family. Neighbors that looked after him for years Mr. and Mrs Rick Garcia, Leanne West, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Noelle, Jimmy, Dave and Lisa and the neighbors of Kolven Cove. Thank to all of them.
Barbara Evans

In Memory of Master Sergeant (Ret.) Willard Horton

On Monday, September 1, 2025, my great uncle, Master Sergeant (Ret.) Willard Horton, passed away. His life was one of service, sacrifice, and devotion—to his country, to his family, and to his faith.

Uncle Willard proudly served 20 years in the United States Army, retiring as a Master Sergeant. His dedication and bravery were recognized with the Bronze Star, Silver Star, multiple Purple Hearts, and many other decorations. His service was not just measured by medals, but by the courage and commitment he carried through every day of his life.

For me, he was more than a decorated soldier. He was a mentor and a supporter. After I served 8 years in the U.S. Air Force and later 22 years as a State Trooper, retiring as a Major, he never failed to remind me how proud he was. Every time we spoke, he greeted me as “Major,” a title he insisted on honoring. He also shared how his church prayed for me every Sunday—first as I wore the uniform of the military, and later as I wore the uniform of law enforcement. That kind of loyalty and quiet devotion defined who he was.

His obituary doesn’t fully capture the life he lived or the impact he made. He was a man of honor, faith, and strength—someone whose story deserves to be remembered in full. I want people to know that he lived with purpose, with courage, and with a heart that never stopped caring for others.

Rest easy, Uncle Willard. Your service, your faith, and your example will never be forgotten.

Lance Evans (great nephew of Willard)

Mr Bill was our neighbor for 25 years.   He helped everyone around him and was always happy to see and talk to us all.  He watched out for my daughter every day as she stepped off the school bus and made sure she got home.   He had grace and plenty of love and care for all his family and his neighbors.   May he rest in peace and I am going to miss him.

I am a niece of Willard's. I grew up with him in my life daily.  We were very close and I am so sad to not have him in my life any longer.  He was a  Viet Nam Vet and served our great country fighting for our country twice in Nam.  Rest well Uncle Willard,  I will miss you.  He retired as a Master Sgt. A true Warrior.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Willard "Bill" Horton

6 février 1935 – 1 septembre 2025

Striffler-Hamby Mortuary - Columbus

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