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Donald Horton Obituary
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Don was a 1957 graduate of Mt. Vernon High School. Following graduation, he entered the United States Navy and served for over seven years. Don served most of his time in the Navy on a Permit-class nuclear submarine. After his service, he attended The University of Houston and San Diego State. Don worked for the United States Department of Energy, Washington D.C., as the Deputy Director of Civilian Nuclear Power, as well as in Quality Assurance. While at the Department of Energy, he assisted in the Yucca Mountain Project, Las Vegas, NV. Don was a member of the; Sons of the American Revolution, Mayflower Society, VFW and American Legion. He was a member of Church of the Holy Cross, Hutchinson, and associate member of United Church of Christ Midland, Sterling.
On September 15, 1973, he married his wife and soulmate, Vicki Lynn Stange, in Reno, NV.
Don is survived by: his wife of nearly 52 years, Vicki Horton, of Hutchinson; children, Stephanie (Mike) Madzy of Marble Falls, TX, Anthony Horton of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Christian Horton of Houston, TX, Joshua Horton of Round Rock, TX, Charles Wesley Madzy of Washington; great-grandson, Asher Horton; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; sister, Jaunita Godard; brothers, William Horton, Jr., Paul "Bob" Horton, Leonard Horton, Jack Horton, Charles Horton and Billy Horton.
Graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 30, 2025, in Sterling Community Cemetery, 522 E. Cleveland, Sterling, with Pastor Mike McLemore officiating. Military Honors will be conducted by the United State Navy Honor Guard. Friends may sign his book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Elliott Mortuary. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
Sam H. Horton
August 29, 2025
I met Don in Chattanooga, TN in1987. He put his middle finger over my cubicle, so I grabbed it and walked it around to my cubicle while working at TVA. I said who are you? He said I'm Don Horton and you and I have the same last name. From there, we ended in Las Vegas together working on the Yucca Mountain contract. I was contractor quality assurance engineer and he was my boss. We ended up becoming very close friends and spent many Friday nights fishing all night on Lake Mead. We also went to S. Korea together as I prepared and he presented a paper to the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute on the status of Yucca Mountain and high-level nuclear waste.
I truly enjoyed being around Don as he was real, sincere, competitive and very down to earth. We have kept in touch over the years via sending birthday and Christmas cards to one another.
I will certainly miss him and hope to see him in the next world. Rest in peace my dear friend.
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