Richard Marcus Horton

Richard M. Horton, of Leawood, Kansas and founder of Western Container Company, died Tuesday, March 25th. He was 78. Mr. Horton was born in Kansas City, MO. on Oct. 3, 1935 to Lester and Ada (Henderson) Horton and graduated from Paseo High School in 1954. He married Jackie on January 14, 1955. Richard spent seven years in the U.S. Army Reserve as an expert marksman on the U.S. Army pistol team while working at Burd & Fletcher. He also worked briefly at Trans World Airlines Overhaul Base before working at Central Paper Box Company. In 1960, Richard founded Western Container Company, which is headquartered in Kansas City. From 1973-1988, he served on the Board of Directors for the Kansas City Association for the Blind in many capacities, including president. He also served on the Merriam Kansas Police Reserve Unit as a volunteer in the early eighties. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jackie, their four children: Susan Horton, Rick Horton, Mark Horton and Gwen Sweet; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 30th at Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Mo. 64131. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association or to cancer research. Arrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.