Phyllis June Horton

Phyllis June (VanBibber) Horton of Live Oak, TX, took the next step in her adventure on Monday, August 8, 2022. Her son and daughter were by her side. Phyllis was born on March 4, 1930, in the former Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, to the late Dorsey Haworth VanBibber and Mary Lavinia (Bell) VanBibber. She was the widow of Paul Raymond Horton, to whom she was married for eleven days short of seventy-one years. She was also pre-deceased by a son, Richard Keith Horton, and a granddaughter, Julliette Lynn Kuel. She is survived by sons, Robert “Terry” Horton of Reading, PA, and Barry “BJ” Horton of Philadelphia, PA, as well as daughters Cynthia “Cindy” Pierson of Cinnaminson, NJ, Phyllis Dawn Horton of Live Oak, TX, and niece/daughter Dawn Rene (Rashall) Jungblut of Easton, PA. She leaves eleven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and her precious Honey Bun, Momma Cat, and Sweetie Pie.

Phyllis, as an only child, enjoyed her large extended family. She spent her early childhood living in the house her great-grandfather built, along with her great-grandfather, grandparents, and many aunts and uncles, who she viewed as older brothers and sisters. Phyllis spent her later youth living in a bungalow 50 yards away from the family homestead. The homestead became known as “Down Home” and is still in the family. She was always welcoming additional friends and relatives to the fold. Phyllis met Paul at the newly opened Officer’s Club at Maguire Air Force Base, where she and her girlfriends would go to dances on weekends. A Jersey girl at heart, she migrated to Texas in 2000 when her husband retreated to his roots. Her Mother made a covenant with her when Phyllis married on May 5, 1949. “ What God has joined together, let nothing tear apart, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer till death do you part.” Phyllis took her marriage vows and the covenant made with her Mother very seriously. The love she experienced down home from her family in her youth, her belief in God, the love of her children and grandchildren, and the courage she felt from her earliest days at Asbury M. E. Church in Cinnaminson, NJ, supported her. Throughout her life, Phyllis was continually adopting people and animals in need. She always offered friendship to everyone she met. Many friends and relatives in Texas sustained her trust in humankind and helped her through many dark days.

In Beverly, New Jersey, Phyllis was a Cub Scout den mother for two separate stints; she was very active in her church, President of the Beverly PTA, and was a successful long-term campaigner for the construction of a new elementary school to replace three outdated buildings, a city council member whose goal was to revitalize the city to reverse the decay after the last major industry left, and a regular contributor to the editorial page of the Burlington County Times.

Phyllis’s sense of humor was legendary; she could brighten up any gathering. She was an avid bowler and a die-hard Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles fan. She enjoyed Me TV. Traveling, camping, rescuing animals, reading, relaxing at the shore, hand-writing letters in her beautiful script, and trying to imitate her Mother’s success in raising African Violets were among her many hobbies. Her grandchildren and pets were the high points of her life and meant the world to her. She will be missed.

In place of flowers, please make a contribution to the charity of your choice in her name.

Funeral Services for Phyllis will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at 11:30 AM CDT at Colonial Funeral Home, 625 Kitty Hawk Rd., Universal City, TX, with visitation from 10:00 AM CDT. Go to www.colonialuniversal.com and search for Phyllis Horton for a link to a live stream of the services. Burial will follow in Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX, at 2:15 PM CDT. Afterward, a short reception will be held at the Fellowship Hall of the Universal City United Methodist Church, 90 Winn Ave., Universal City, TX, at 4:00 PM CDT.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colonialuniversal.com for the Horton family.