Gerda Wilhelmine Horton

She was born on January 20, 1929 in Rechlinghausen, Germany to Wilhelm Hofener and Elisabeth (Mallach) Hofener. She had an older sister, Elisabeth "Elli" (Hofener) Pyrek, and a younger brother Helmut Wilhelm Karl Hofener.

Gerda lived during World War II and was injured in a bombing in June of 1940 at age 11. Her extended family was staying at her grandfather's house at that time. It was a large house since he had 16 children. Her father and uncle heard the planes overhead and yelled for everyone to get to the basement. The bombs hit all around the house and then one was a direct hit just as everyone was getting to the basement. Six family members died, including her father and brother, uncle, aunt, and 2 cousins. Another aunt, cousin, and herself were injured and sent to the hospital where Gerda had spend the next 6 months.

At the age of 14, Gerda began working in an office. Being employed as an apprentice is part of the German system of vocational education and training. Complementing higher education by training young people for the labor market and teaching them an occupation. She worked in a restaurant after the war.

She went on vacation with a friend to Bavaria where she had met James Horton. He was in the U.S. Army and stationed in Germany. Gerda must have made an impression because he had returned to the United States to re-enlist so he could come back to Germany. They were married December 28, 1953. They had to have 2 ceremonies, one German civil ceremony and another American ceremony at the chapel. Gerda came to the United States on May 8, 1954.

Jim and Gerda had 4 children. Connie (Horton) Knight, born in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, James Horton, born in Greensboro, Pennsylvania, Garry Horton, born in Nurnberg, Germany, and Renee' Horton, born at Ft. Carson, Colorado.

Gerda and Jim bought a house in Security, Colorado in 1961. They rented it out while stationed in Texas, but returned in 1964 and had lived there ever since. While in Texas, she worked as a waitress. After returning to Colorado in 1964, she worked again as a waitress at what is now called Sandy's just outside of Peterson AFB. Jim received orders to Korea, and while there, he suffered a major stroke in 1964. He received a medical discharge and Gerda took care of him for the rest of his life.

Gerda began working at Ampex in 1965. She worked there for almost 25 years and retired in 1989 to stay home with Jim who had suffered several more strokes. After retirement, She planned on going back to school. However, she started taking care of her grandchildren, Joshua and Amber. Jim and Gerda did some travelling with friends, JAck and Elise Canady. She had been one several cruises and seen most of the United States including Hawaii and Alaska, and of course, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Holland.

Jim passed away April 7, 2007 and is interred at Pikes Peak National Cemetery. He always liked looking at Pikes Peak from the front porch and there is a great view from the cemetery. His friend, Jack Canady, is in the row directly behind him. They had been married over 53 years.

Gerda is survived by her children, her 4 grandchildren Keith Knight, Joshua Horton, Amber (Horton) Lopez, and Robert Knight, and her 4 great-grandchildren Hunter Knight, Henley Lopez, Theo Lopez, and Archer Knight. Gerda was preceded in death be one great grandson, Miles Lopez.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 from 5:30pm-7pm at Swan-Law Funeral Directors, 501 N Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Services will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 from 11am-12pm at Swan-Law, and a 1pm burial at Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80925