FRANCES E. (HAMM) HORTON, 88, of Barboursville, W.Va., went to be with the Lord Tuesday, June 18, 2025. Frances was born September 18, 1936, in Lester, W.Va., a daughter of the late Roy and Belva Hamm. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 67 years, Benjamin Horton, Sr., two sisters, Anise and Jo, and one brother, Roy, Jr. She graduated from Trap Hill High School in 1954 and later from Marshall University. She retired from Cabell County Schools after a decades-long career as an educator. Her passion was promoting literacy throughout the state. She served as a Title 1 Reading Specialist and later as the program supervisor. She was remarkably dedicated to the West Virginia Reading Association. Her tenure as Vendor Coordinator spanned five decades, and she also served as Secretary, Vice President, President, and Past President. She received numerous awards and accolades, including the International Literacy Association Award of Excellence, Madge McDaniel Award, WVRA Service Award, and Citation of Merit. More than anything, she will be remembered as a woman of strong Christian faith and a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She is survived by one son, Benjamin Horton, Jr. (Cheryl) of Milton, W.Va.; one daughter, Karen Miller (Mark) of Scott Depot, W.Va.; sisters Lois Hill (Jim) of Richmond, Va., Margaret Riffe (Jan) of Holmen, Wis., and Ada Maynor (Steve) of Uneeda, W.Va.; one brother-in-law, Delford Horton (Gertie) of Stansbury Park, Utah; seven grandchildren, Bethany Poore (Chris), Jill Holdsworth (Steven), Greg Keiling (Monica), Ashley Reynolds, Ty Miller, Luke Miller (Mary Kate), and Olivia Horton (Jake); ten great-grandchildren, Trinity Poore, Austin and Tucker Dejarnett, Andrew and Cameron Holdsworth, Trevor and Jaxon Keiling, Baylee and Brayden Reynolds, and Jason Adkins; and numerous other family and friends. Sincere thanks to Dr. Shawn Coffman, his nurse Chelsea Williamson, and the St. Mary’s Pulmonary team for their compassionate care. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Wallace Funeral Home & Chapel, Barboursville. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 1 p.m. with Elder Joe Miller and Pastor Simon Morrison officiating. Entombment to follow in White Chapel Memorial Gardens with a celebration of life dinner afterward at Mud River Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Virginia Reading Association at www.tinyurl.com/WVRADonate. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.timeformemory.com/wallace.
