Virginia Horton

Virginia was born on January 20, 1925, the fourth of five children to Gordon Battell and Ethel Melissa (Cherrington) Williams in Blackfoot, Idaho. Her mother and father divorced when she was young. Her mother later married Archibald Max Knodle, and Virginia adored her step father. Growing up in Pingree, Idaho, she attended and graduated high school in the near by Thomas, Idaho where she met Golden LaMar “Abe” Horton and they were wed on August 8, 1938. After living in Thomas for 5 years, they moved to Phoenix for about 9 months, until Abe enlisted to serve in the US Navy during World War II, and she moved home with her children to Pingree. After Abe returned from the war, they moved to Pocatello, ID where they lived until 1955, when they moved to Phoenix with their 3 children. When Abe retired they bought property in Cottonwood, AZ, and lived there for 7 years until Abe’s passing when Virginia moved to Mesa, AZ to be closer to her children.

Virginia loved crossword puzzles, camping, hiking, swimming, gardening, and the much awaited Reader's Digest Sweepstakes (which she was sure she would win each year). She collected small bird figurines, and loved the Diamondbacks baseball team. She loved both board and card games, and patiently taught many of her grandchildren to play her favorites, but never just let them win. She served in many callings in the LDS Church, and had many other interests, but most of all she loved her family.

She was a loving and devoted mother of 3, grandmother of 7, great grandmother of 15, and great great grandmother of 7 (almost 8). We are happy for the reunion that we know she is enjoying with so many loved ones already gone, including her daughter Cheryl Ann Horton who passed at 12 years old and who she has not seen in over 50 years, and her husband Golden LaMar Horton Sr. who she has missed for over 28 years. She is survived by her son; Golden LaMar Horton Jr. and his wife Georgina Till Horton as well as her daugher; Ethel Dawn Free and her husband Thayne “Bud” Free, along with her grand children, great grandchildren, and great great grand children.

We will all remember her smile, her warmth, her laugh, her big hugs, her love for life, for family and friends.

Memorial donations may be made to the LDS Missionary fund.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2015, from 9 until 10 am, followed by funeral service at 11am, at the LDS Chapel located at 6942 E Brown Rd. Mesa, AZ 85207. Graveside service will be conducted at 2 pm at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, 2300 W Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85009. Arrangements were entrusted to Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care in Mesa, Arizona.