George W.J. Horton

FAYETTEVILLE - George W. J. "Jack" Horton, 80, of Fayetteville, departed this earthly life Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008. He is survived by three daughters, Melanie Dean Kimsey of Peachtree City, Ga., and Dale Knowles and Carol Pope, both of Fayetteville; a sister, Elaine Barringer Dorius of High Point; grandchildren, Heather, Holly and Mitch Kimsey, Barrett and Jordan Knowles and Courtney Pope; and a great-grandchild, Hailey Kimsey. Jack Horton was born in South Boston, Va., and reared in Concord. He graduated from Winecoff High School in 1945, and served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to1952. He received his undergraduate degree from Catawba College and a master's degree from East Carolina University. He completed post-graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, Western Carolina University, North Carolina State University and George Washington University. A distinguished career in public education began as a sixth-grade teacher at John Small Elementary School in Washington, N.C. Other educational leadership positions included assistant principal at Washington High School, principal of Orrum Union School District in Robeson County and director of Adult Education at Fayetteville Technical Community College. In 1969, he proudly became the founding principal of Cape Fear High School in eastern Cumberland County, which was a consolidation of Central, Stedman and Armstrong high schools. He served Cape Fear High School and the community until his retirement in 1983. George W. J. Horton made educating and caring for young people his life's work. At his retirement, one of his teachers wrote, "Every child that we reached, every trophy that we won, every program that we produced all was done with him in mind." Jack Horton was a dedicated and loving father to his three daughters. He believed education provided opportunities for personal growth and future success. As a single parent, he took pride in his ability to send his daughters to college and see them graduate. As an eternal optimist, he often told them, "Just believe that life for you will be great if you prepare for it." Every goodbye ended with, "I love you." He once wrote the following Christmas greeting for Hoofbeat, the Cape Fear High School newspaper: "Christmas is a time of praise and thanksgiving. We should be thankful for the wonders of life, the fulfillment of dreams, and the knowledge that there is a living Christ. I hope the spirit of Christ will grow in each of us and make us welcome the New Year." The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008, at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home in Fayetteville. A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008, in Culbreth Memorial United Methodist Church. Memorials in honor of Jack Horton may be made to Culbreth Memorial United Methodist Church, 1813 Sloan Ave., Fayetteville, NC 28312. Services entrusted to Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home of Fayetteville.