Edmund George Horton

Edmund George Horton, 88, of Lincoln Avenue, Attleboro, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died peacefully on Friday, November 9, 2007 at home. He was the beloved husband of twenty-two years to Lillian (Soares) Horton and to the late Marjorie B. (Kennedy) Horton who died in 1982.

Born in North Attleboro on October 27, 1919, Mr. Horton was a son of the late O. Bradford and Abbie (Ware) Horton. He was raised in North Attleboro and was a graduate of North Attleboro High School, Class of 1937. Edmund attended Williams College, School of Banking, Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Rutgers University School of Bank Management, Harvard University, Robert Morris School of Banking, the University of Indiana Evening Division of Bryant College & American School of Banking. Edmund was an instructor at the American School of Banking, lectured and moderated discussion panels at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and authored many articles for financial magazines.

Mr. Horton was employed at the First National Bank of Attleboro and it’s successors from May of 1946 to November of 1984 retiring as a Senior Vice President.

Mr. Horton enlisted at the age of 19 in the U.S. Navy on July 1939 to November 1945 and October 1946 to October 1954. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean 22 times on convoy escort and then went to the Pacific Ocean to the Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa. He landed in Japan with a contingent of British Marines on August 27, 1945. The marines were to secure the base at Yokasuka and Horton’s role was to make certain that all Japanese guns were inoperable prior to the Allied Fleet entered Tokyo. He also escorted President Franklin D. Roosevelt on two cruisers.

After the fall of France in WWII, his ship conducted surveillance of French war ships in the Caribbean and around the Island of Martinique. During the 1940’s, his ship acted as escort on twenty cruises of President F.D.R., the New England Defenses and later viewing of the sites in the Caribbean on which the U.S. obtained an interest in 50 destroyers leased to England. In early 1941, Ens. F.D.R., Jr., U.S.N.R. came aboard to Asst. Gunnery Off. Later that year Edmund’s ship toured the North Atlantic to protect American ships from Nazi submarines. In the Fall of 1940, he participated in laying of anti-submarine and anti-torpedo nets across the harbors in Portland, ME and Narragansett Harbor in Newport, RI. While in Okinawa his ship was involved with the rescue and recovery of ships damaged or sunk by suicide planes. At the end of hostilities, Edmund’s ship passed astern of the U.S.S. Missouri while the Japanese officials were aboard signing the surrender of Japan. He was discharged from the U.S. Navy with the rate of Chief Gunner’s Mate.

Edmund was awarded the U.S. Navy Good Conduct Medal (3 times), the American Defense Medal, Combat Action Medal, American Theater of Operations, European Theater of Operations, Asiatic Theater of Operations, Japanese Occupation Medal, U.S. Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal.

Mr. Horton was a member of the Attleboro V.F.W., the Tin Can Sailors and the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association. An avid golfer, Edmund was a former member of Highland Country Club and the Lions Club, both in Attleboro. A Treasurer of the Greater Attleboro United Way Mr. Horton was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Attleboro Industrial Development Committee and a Director of Attleboro Enterprises, Inc.

In addition to his beloved wife, Lillian, Mr. Horton is survived by two sons: William B. Horton and John K. Horton, both of North Attleboro; a step-daughter: Sandra Pizziferri of Waltham, MA; ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was the beloved father of the late Nancy-Jane Fenton of Phoenix, AZ and brother of the late Gertrude Stolworthy, Elizabeth Lavoie, Osmond B. Horton, Irving R. Horton and Norman W. Horton.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 from 5 PM – 8 PM in the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck Street, Attleboro. A funeral will be conducted on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 8:30 AM from the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM in St. John the Evangelist Church, 133 North Main Street, Attleboro celebrated by the Rev. Richard Roy, Pastor.

Mr. Horton will be laid to rest beside his late wife, Marjorie, with full military honors conducted by the U.S. Navy in St. John’s Cemetery, West Street, Attleboro.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his memory may be made to: The American Cancer Society, PO Box 102454, Atlanta, GA 30368 and/or The American Diabetes Association, PO Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.

On-line guest book for family and friends to express condolences and additional information may be found at: www.duffy-poule.com.