Obituary for Irving Leroy "Irv" Horton
HORTON, Irving
December 20, 1934 - August 20, 2022
Passed away peacefully at Harvest Crossing Retirement Home on August 20th, 2022 in his 87th year. Irving (Irv), was born in Wainfleet Township, Ontario at the Horton family home. He was the youngest of ten children to the late Raymond Horton and Esther (Ecker) Horton. The family was frequently on the move to keep pace with Raymond’s job on the railroad before the Hortons settled into Tillsonburg in 1939.
Tillsonburg is where Irv met the love of his life Margaret, to whom he was married for 64 wonderful years. Irv was a devoted and much-loved father and father-in-law to Cynthia (Cam), Catharine (Michael) and Brock (Holly) as well as a beloved Grandpa to Teigan, Josh, Riley, Jade, Mary, Marlee and Zoe.
Irv was pre-deceased by his nine siblings; however, he maintained great relationships with many of his much loved nephews and nieces.
Irv spent his early childhood years attending Rolph Street Public School. He was a prolific athlete in high school who excelled in football, basketball and track and field. After graduating high school, Irv decided to pursue a career in the education field. His teaching career began in 1954 at the Salford Public School wherein his first job included him being a teacher and a principal of a two-room schoolhouse. He went on to teach in Delhi for a number of years before returning to his hometown of Tillsonburg in order to become a principal at Rolph Street and then the newly established Maple Lane Public School, which opened in the late 1960’s. While working, Irv was frequently taking extra courses ultimately earning his Masters of Education degree from the University of Toronto. Then, in 1972, Irv took on the position of Superintendent of Education with the Oxford County Public School Board, a role in which he served until his retirement in 1990.
Shortly after retiring as a Superintendent, Irv ran in the Tillsonburg municipal elections and secured a seat as a town councilor for the second time; the first time being a stint in the early 1970s. Irv served another term as councilor prior to becoming deputy mayor for one term. Then, in 2000 Irv was voted in as Tillsonburg’s mayor, a position he served one term before ultimately retiring from municipal politics in 2003.
Some of Irv’s other contributions to civic duty included 20 years as a member of the Tillsonburg Parks and Rec Commission, various municipal committees, Chair of the Board of directors of the Woodingford Lodge County Home for the Elderly, Tillsonburg Kinsmen Club, Chair of County Public Works Committee as well as other various boards and committees.
Irv remained active in the community for many years. He was a member of the St. Paul’s United church choir as well as Chair of the Annandale Historical Society. One of his greatest joys was retelling old stories with storyteller's knack, sharing fun facts and reminiscing with family and friends on the front porch.
Irv was a regular patron of the Tillsonburg Health Club for many years and helped to instill a love of exercise and sport in his children and grandchildren with whom he could often be found to be participating in a wide variety of activities including tennis, squash, golf and jogging.
All who knew Irv are invited to attend a public visitation on Thursday, August 25th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Ostrander’s Funeral Home, 43 Bidwell Street, Tillsonburg. A public memorial service to celebrate Irv’s life will be conducted on Friday, August 26th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Church, Tillsonburg. There will be a reception to follow immediately afterwards at the church where there will be a light luncheon provided. A private interment ceremony will take place at a later time. Memorial donations in Irv’s name may be made to St. Paul’s Church or Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation. Personal condolences and favourite memories can be shared at www.ostrandersfuneralhome.com
December 20, 1934 - August 20, 2022
Passed away peacefully at Harvest Crossing Retirement Home on August 20th, 2022 in his 87th year. Irving (Irv), was born in Wainfleet Township, Ontario at the Horton family home. He was the youngest of ten children to the late Raymond Horton and Esther (Ecker) Horton. The family was frequently on the move to keep pace with Raymond’s job on the railroad before the Hortons settled into Tillsonburg in 1939.
Tillsonburg is where Irv met the love of his life Margaret, to whom he was married for 64 wonderful years. Irv was a devoted and much-loved father and father-in-law to Cynthia (Cam), Catharine (Michael) and Brock (Holly) as well as a beloved Grandpa to Teigan, Josh, Riley, Jade, Mary, Marlee and Zoe.
Irv was pre-deceased by his nine siblings; however, he maintained great relationships with many of his much loved nephews and nieces.
Irv spent his early childhood years attending Rolph Street Public School. He was a prolific athlete in high school who excelled in football, basketball and track and field. After graduating high school, Irv decided to pursue a career in the education field. His teaching career began in 1954 at the Salford Public School wherein his first job included him being a teacher and a principal of a two-room schoolhouse. He went on to teach in Delhi for a number of years before returning to his hometown of Tillsonburg in order to become a principal at Rolph Street and then the newly established Maple Lane Public School, which opened in the late 1960’s. While working, Irv was frequently taking extra courses ultimately earning his Masters of Education degree from the University of Toronto. Then, in 1972, Irv took on the position of Superintendent of Education with the Oxford County Public School Board, a role in which he served until his retirement in 1990.
Shortly after retiring as a Superintendent, Irv ran in the Tillsonburg municipal elections and secured a seat as a town councilor for the second time; the first time being a stint in the early 1970s. Irv served another term as councilor prior to becoming deputy mayor for one term. Then, in 2000 Irv was voted in as Tillsonburg’s mayor, a position he served one term before ultimately retiring from municipal politics in 2003.
Some of Irv’s other contributions to civic duty included 20 years as a member of the Tillsonburg Parks and Rec Commission, various municipal committees, Chair of the Board of directors of the Woodingford Lodge County Home for the Elderly, Tillsonburg Kinsmen Club, Chair of County Public Works Committee as well as other various boards and committees.
Irv remained active in the community for many years. He was a member of the St. Paul’s United church choir as well as Chair of the Annandale Historical Society. One of his greatest joys was retelling old stories with storyteller's knack, sharing fun facts and reminiscing with family and friends on the front porch.
Irv was a regular patron of the Tillsonburg Health Club for many years and helped to instill a love of exercise and sport in his children and grandchildren with whom he could often be found to be participating in a wide variety of activities including tennis, squash, golf and jogging.
All who knew Irv are invited to attend a public visitation on Thursday, August 25th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Ostrander’s Funeral Home, 43 Bidwell Street, Tillsonburg. A public memorial service to celebrate Irv’s life will be conducted on Friday, August 26th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Church, Tillsonburg. There will be a reception to follow immediately afterwards at the church where there will be a light luncheon provided. A private interment ceremony will take place at a later time. Memorial donations in Irv’s name may be made to St. Paul’s Church or Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation. Personal condolences and favourite memories can be shared at www.ostrandersfuneralhome.com