John Horton

1942 - 2021

John Horton
January 18, 1942 - January 4, 2021
Modesto, California - John Wesley Horton passed away peacefully on January 4, 2021 from Covid-19 complications at Memorial Medical Center.
John was born in Pomona, CA to Virgil and Lula Horton. He attended Azusa High School. It was here that he met his future wife, Patricia. In 1962 they married and settled in Southern California where they would welcome 3 children. In the late 60's, the young family relocated to Turlock, Modesto, and Manteca, before finally settling in Ripon, where they raised their family.
John and Patricia were dedicated public servants focused on education. They were very active in the local 4-H club, heading up the Swine Group for over 12 years. In the mid 80's they moved to Modesto where John attended MJC where he focused his studies on Horticulture. John worked at the City of Modesto in Parks and Recreation for over 25 years. He worked tirelessly to keep the parks clean and safe for local families.
John had a passion for the 2nd amendment and firearm safety. As a member of many constitutional rights groups, he worked tirelessly to protect our right to keep and bear arms. John maintained certifications as an NRA Range Safety Officer and Handgun Instructor. He made it his mission to ensure as many people as possible were trained on how to legally and safely maintain and operate their firearms, while keeping themselves and families safe.
John kept his skills current with frequent trips to Front Sight Firearms Training Institute in Nevada. He would spear-head group trainings for friends and family to ensure they were able to be properly trained while enjoying the experience. Anyone who remotely showed an interest in firearms would be treated to a knowledgeable discussion with offers of Front Sight Memberships to further their education.
An avid hunter, John had a love of the outdoors which was reflected in his career in the parks department. He would be known to spend weeks at a time up in the mountains, offering open invitations for friends and family to come join for however long they were able to stay. Guests would be treated to campfire cooked meals, stories, hunting, and fun. It would not be unusual for John to find improperly banked and abandoned campfires; stopping whatever he was doing to secure the fire in order to keep the forests safe for everyone.
John is preceded in death by his wife of almost 57 years, Patricia, his parents and 5 siblings. He is survived by his son Scott Horton (Michelle), and daughters Sherry Horton and Lisa Horton (Chris Beach). In addition to their 3 children, they have 8 grandchildren: Joe Horton, Gena Streeter (Dan), Stephanie Jefferson (Kyle), Ryan Perez, Christopher Horton, Addison Kaster, Emily Perez-Glendon (Colin) and Tyler Perez. He was also blessed with 9 great grandchildren and one on the way.
A funeral service for John and Patricia will be held from 10-12, January 30, 2021, at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock. John and Patricia's interment will be held at Lakewood Memorial Park in a private ceremony.
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