Bill B. Horton

Bill B. Horton, 85, of Asheville stepped into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ on October 5, 2006. A native of Buncombe County who moved to Asheville in 1925, he was the son of the late Shelby E. Horton, Sr., and Lillian Metcalfe Horton of Yancey County and Asheville. He was a graduate of Lee H. Edwards High School, Biltmore College, and Blanton’s Business College. He retired from Champion International Corporation with 44 years of supervisory service in accounting, taxes, and insurance and was a local officer in the National Association of Accountants and a Certified Supervisor Training Instructor. A World War II veteran, Bill served two years overseas in the Air Force in India and Burma, mainly in the jungles of Burma. Bill was very involved in the community. He served on Asheville City Council for three terms and was on the Local Government Study Commission and the Buncombe County Board of Tax Supervision. He was also chairman of Concerned Citizens for Asheville and Buncombe County and chairman of Concerned Parents for Better, Safer Schools. For many years, he served on the Board of Western Carolina Rescue Mission and was chairman during two fundraising and expansion projects. Serving many years as a church leader, Bill was an active Gideon, deacon, Sunday School teacher, Church Training Director, and choir soloist. He had been a member at West Asheville Baptist Church since 1959. Bill served on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, and on the General Board of the Buncombe Baptist Association. Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Jo McCain Horton; sons, Lawrence J. Horton and his wife, Patricia, of Asheville, and Bruce E. Horton-Blacknight and his wife, Patti, of Madison County; daughter, Tracey L. Horton, of Raleigh; grandchildren, Amanda R. Horton and Matthew B. Horton, of Asheville; brother, Shelby E. Horton, Jr., of Asheville; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Horton, of Cary, NC. Funeral services will be held at West Asheville Baptist Church on Monday, October 9, at 3:00 p.m. with the Dr. James H. Johnson and the Rev. Johnnie Tiller officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorials be made to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC, 28813, or to Western Carolina Rescue Mission, 225 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC, 28801. The family would particularly like to thank Dr. Joel Rosenberg, as well as the rest of the medical community who cared for Bill during his illness.