James Edwin Horton

James Edwin Horton was born September 19, 1936, in Tupelo, Oklahoma, in a farmhouse. He passed away on December 17, 2021 in Allen, Texas. He was predeceased by his mother Florence Daniels Horton, his father Ellis Edwin Horton, his brother Earl Eugene Horton, and his daughter Lorrie Gale Colbert. Ed graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Master of Science in Physics. He also attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He married Mary Frances Gale on January 28, 1961, and she became the love of his life. Ed and Mary Horton were blessed with two children, Lorrie Gale and Jay Ellis. In 1972, God called the Hortons to the mission field where they were able to share the gospel in Kenya, East Africa. While living in Kenya, Ed served as a teacher of mathematics and physics, and later as a principal, at Mombasa Baptist Highschool. Although he enjoyed serving as a teacher, Ed felt his true calling was evangelism. Ed's mission was to train local pastors and better equip them to minister to their people. Due to Ed's obedience in following God's calling for his life, numerous new churches were able to be planted nationally. Ed also had the privilege to pastor Parklands Baptist Church in Nairobi which was a a great honor. Following their twenty-one years of service in Kenya, Ed and Mary Horton moved to Antwerp, Belgium, where he pastored a church for internationals for five years. Upon retiring as missionaries, the Hortons built a house in Oklahoma City, where he pastored Shields Boulevard Baptist Church for 4 years. In order to be near grandchildren, the Hortons moved to Wylie, Texas, where Ed worked at an assisted living center for 10 years on Sunday mornings. The seeds planted by Ed Horton in Kenya, and all around the world, continue to flourish. Wherever he traveled, Ed viewed it as an opportunity to share Jesus's love with anyone who would listen. Ed could not stand in a check-out line or sit in a waiting room without sharing the great love of his Savior. "Babu" will be missed greatly by his loving wife, son, "favorite" daughter in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends.