James T. Horton

James Thomas Horton, 78, of Stevensville passed away on Thursday, July 19, 2018, at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Jim was born on March 10, 1940, in Lawrence, Michigan, to Clell W. and Marie L. (Shafer) Horton. He was the youngest of four children. He married his loving wife, Gale (Francik) Horton, on March 3, 1979, and the two were inseparable for nearly 40 years of marriage. Jim graduated from Bangor High School in 1958, and remained close with many of his childhood and high school friends throughout the decades. He then earned an advanced degree in technology from the DeVry Institute of Technology in Chicago in the 1960s. Jim proudly served his country in the National Guard and responded to the historic riots in Detroit and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in the 1960s. In the 1960s, Jim and his brother, Kenneth, formed Ken’s TV & Appliance in Bangor. This came after years of working with Ken part time starting in high school. As a business owner, Jim became active with the Bangor Jaycees. In the early 1980s, Jim opened Jim’s TV & Video and earned a reputation not only for his skill at repairing anything that came his way, but also for his honesty and friendly attitude. Jim loved golf and played on many leagues. He loved the Detroit Tigers and Lions and especially enjoyed watching kids play sports or even watching golfers from his son, Erik’s, backyard. Jim loved cars, especially classic cars, and enjoyed driving. He delighted in driving family and friends on backroads and “shortcuts.” For nearly 10 years, he and Gale were “snowbirds” in Florida. Jim made friends quickly, adding another community of people in his life who appreciated his stories and his genuine interest in their lives. Jim is survived by his wife, Gale; daughter, Delynn (John) Kenel of New York; sons Erik (Denise) Barber of Indiana, Bryan (Christine Cox) Fields of Indiana, and David (Tina) Barton of New York; granddaughter, Kendra Barber of Indiana; grandson Samuel Barton of New York; an aunt; cousins; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Louise Lee and Kenneth and Robert Horton. A celebration of life service will be held 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with the Rev. Tom Bird officiating. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery in Stevensville, with military rites conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Friends may visit from 5 until 7 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Memorial donations in Jim’s name may be made to the American Heart Association or Berrien County Cancer Service in Stevensville. Those wishing to sign Jim’s memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.