Lois Louise Lorton Horton, beloved mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, friend, and colleague was born in Radford on Mar. 15, 1937, to William David Lorton, Jr., and Beulah Hanks Lorton.
As a child, she attended McGuffey Elementary School and later graduated from Radford High School in the Class of 1955 with many lifelong friends.
Always a loving caregiver, she became a nurse and received training at Washington, D.C., General Hospital. During her time in training, a snowstorm disrupted access to the city. The inauguration of President Kennedy was scheduled to take place, but many of the people who were to attend could not arrive. A friend of hers was dating a marine, and those young men were told to get to the inauguration ball because they needed people. Mom was fortunate to be able to attend and that event was a happy memory.
Lois worked at St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital for 40 years as a nurse and later as the director of in-service education, helping to keep the hospital staff trained and up-to-date to best serve the patients. The members of the St. Albans team were her extended family, and those relationships continued for the rest of her life.
She was married to Raymond Crockett Horton, and they were happy together even though they only had a few short years before his untimely passing.
She was a lifelong member of First Christian Church/Unity Christian Church in Radford. Over the years she helped with numerous projects, including the creation of Chrismon ornaments for the Christmas tree and working with youth group members.
She loved to cross-stitch and made thousands of ornaments, which she gave to her friends and family. Many of these adorn their holiday trees each year.
Lois was in every facet of her life a caregiver. She raised two children, Beth and David, as a single mother while working full time in an era when the support for single parents was much less available.
She helped in the care of her father and stepmother during the final years of their lives.
She helped care for her grandsons, Ryan and Matthew, who were the major joy in her life over the last 25 years. Her boys always made her smile.
Her neighbors and friends were dear in her heart for all of her days, and even when she was no longer able to live in the house on Kirkwood Drive, she thought of them and stayed in touch as she could.
A celebration of her life will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at Unity Christian Church with the Rev. Gina Rhea officiating. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Unity Christian Church, 400 Tyler Ave., Radford, VA 24141.
The Horton family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com.
