Rev. Gene Horton

San Benito, TX:

Fain Eugene (Gene) Horton, 84, passed away June 22, 2018 at Harlingen Medical Center.
Gene was born March 29, 1934 in La Junta, Colorado to Fain and Lillian Horton. He graduated in 1952 from Killeen High School where he played football and was a Golden Gloves Boxer. Gene attended Baylor University and then graduated from Texas A & M Corpus Christi (UCC) where earned his master/doctorate from Trinity Theological Seminary in Indiana. He married Phynetta Ann Gautier on August 7, 1953 in Killeen, TX. Gene was a first responder for a tornado in Waco in 1953 that killed 114 people. He started the mission church now known as Skyline Baptist Church (1954 - 1957). Then pastor First Baptist Church in Mineral, TX from 1958 - 1961 and was also a school teacher, bus driver and a radio dj. He pastor from 1961 - 1966 at First Baptist Church in Lyford and then Crestwood Baptist Church from 1966 - 1967. Gene pastor First Baptist Church of Rio Hondo from 1968 - 2016 and then Lighthouse Fellowship Harlingen from 2016 - 2018.

He loved to fly, water ski, snow ski, ride motorcycles, and post on Facebook. He never met a stranger. Gene loved his pets - many cats and a few dogs along the way. He was on local T.V. for 50 years, author of the book "Revival", and recorded a gospel album "He Touched Me".

His calling to pastor, preach the gospel and to pray over the people of the Rio Grande Valley. He loved the Hispanic people and culture and sensed God had "tugged" his heart to move and remain in the Rio Grande Valley. He also found a treasure in the "Winter Texans".

He loved to fly - for over 50 years. He earned the rating of a "Flight Instructor" and taught hundreds to solo in their plane. In recent years he could be seen flying his Eurcoupe from Harlingen to San Benito to Rio Hondo as he prayed for the people he loved.

He loved to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. When asked about slowing down he replied he had promised God he would preach until he died. He preached his last sermon last Sunday on Father's Day.
He was married to the love of his life (his high school sweetheart) for almost 65 years. He loved his kids, grandkids and great grandkids. They will miss their "Papa" and many other he adopted who affectionately called him "Bubba Gene".

His greatest desire was to lead his family in a life that honored his Heavenly Father.
He is survived by his wife Phynetta Ann Gautier Horton; children David (Stephanie) Horton of Plano, TX, Donna (Vance) Greek of Rio Hondo, TX and Debbie (Jack) Damron of Dripping Springs, TX; grandchildren Steven (Daisy) Greek, Kristen Horton, Jaclyn (Dan) Reagan, Travis (Jill) Damron, Gina (Luke) Funderburg; great grandchildren, Daniel Greek, Nathan Greek, Joshua Greek, Jaxon Reagan, Grant Reagan, Kylie Damron, Zoe Damron, Laila Funderburg, Brandon Funderburg, and Logan Funderburg; and sister Barbara Ann Bacon (Harvey) of Killeen, TX.

Visitation will be held Monday, June 25, 2018 from 12 noon to 9:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.

A celebration of Gene's life will be held Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the Lighthouse Fellowship Church, 3700 E. Harrison Harlingen, TX.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Lighthouse Fellowship Church, P.O. Box 799, Rio Hondo, TX 78583.