James David Horton

  James David Horton, age 64, of Weatherford, Texas, passed away into the arms of his Savior on Saturday, September 6, 2025.

  Born April 29, 1961, in Ruston, Louisiana, to James Hershel Horton and Janet Louise (VanCleave) Horton. Known to his family and friends as Jim, he grew up loving sports, especially baseball, basketball, and football, and enjoyed putting together model cars, planes, and train sets. When he was a senior in high school, Jim accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at Victory Baptist Church in Sherwood, Arkansas.

  In 1980, he met his wife, Kim Dawn Roberson, at a Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship college retreat in Bogg Springs, Arkansas. Though she was attending Oklahoma University and he was attending the University of Arkansas, he diligently courted her long-distance for nearly a year before asking her to marry him in the summer of 1981. They were married at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Owasso, Oklahoma, on August 14, 1982, then returned to Fayetteville, Arkansas.

  In 1983, Jim graduated with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas and accepted a full-time position with General Dynamics. This decision brought him to Fort Worth, Texas, where he established a life-long career as a systems engineer in the defense industry.

  His commitment to the Lord and to his family led him first to Liberty Baptist Church in Fort Worth, then later to Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where he received ordination as a deacon. During his time at Friendship, he served as the Youth Director and Sunday School teacher, played in a church softball league, and regularly hosted Bible studies with his family in his home in Saginaw, Texas.

  Jim and Kim remained in Saginaw for 17 years and built a community of friends and neighbors centered around their church family, their political activism in Tarrant County, and the home-education opportunities for all five of their children - Rachel, Rebekah, Jonathan, Andrew, and Jeremy. After the birth of their fifth child, Jeremy Quinn Horton, in 2000, Jim built a new home on the property he had purchased in Parker County, near Lake Weatherford. The family relocated to the home that he designed and built from the ground up in 2001.

  When Jim and his family relocated, they also found a new church home in Weatherford at Victory Baptist Church. Jim served there faithfully for nearly 24 years as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, regional director for church missions, and usher. He continued to follow his passion for youth sports with Weatherford Express and served for many years in different capacities as coach, board member, and Athletic Director. He also maintained his involvement in local issues by serving as a precinct chair in the Parker County Republican Party.

  Jim Horton's legacy is woven into the family he built with his beloved wife, Kim Horton; and their children, Rachel Horton (Weatherford), Rebekah Horton (Argyle), Jonathan Horton (Fort Worth), Andrew Horton and wife, Emma Horton (Weatherford), and Jeremy Horton (Weatherford).

  He is survived by his mother, Janet Louise Horton of Shreveport, Louisiana; his father, James Hershel Horton and wife, Jacque Horton of Natchitoches, Louisiana; and his siblings, Leigh Ann Horton Grinnis and husband, Keith (Austin, Arkansas), Vanessa Horton Hendershot (Cabot, Arkansas), and Amy Horton Reeves and husband, Dr. John W. Reeves (Shreveport, Louisiana); along with a host of nieces and nephews.

  A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025, at Victory Baptist Church, located at 1311 E. Bankhead Dr., Weatherford, Texas 76086, with a time of visitation beginning one hour prior at 10:00 a.m. Following the service, burial will take place at Annetta Cemetery at 2:00 p.m., located at 2667 W. FM 5, Annetta, Texas 76008.

  In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe account has been set up to help with funeral expenses. 

Arrangements are entrusted to Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel. https://www.galbreaithpickard.com/