Thomas Bertram Horton Jr, beloved husband, father, stepfather, grandfather and greatgrandfather, a true gentleman, wise, wonderful, and sweet and loved by all of his family and friends very deeply, died Monday afternoon in the Intensive Care Unit of Newberry County Memorial Hospital, Newberry, S.C.

Mr. Horton was born in Health Springs, S.C. in Lancaster County on December 2, 1919, the son of the late Thomas Bertram Horton Sr. and the late Vasti Mackey Horton. Mr. Horton graduated from Heath Springs High School and in 1942 graduated from Wofford College where he was a member of the International Relations Club, and Pi Gamma Mu, scholastic fraternities. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi, a social fraternity. He was a Dean's List student all four years. He was extremely proud of Wofford College and remained a loyal, enthusiastic supporter all of his life.

He was a veteran of World War II with forty months of service, having infantry training at Camp Corpus Cristi, Texas, and serving in the Adjutant General's office, attached to headquarters of the 341st Engineers involved in the building of the Alcon Highway from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Fairbanks, Alaska. This was a supply line to offset the threat of a Japanese invasion through the Aleutian Islands and Alaska.

He began his professional career in 1946 by teaching accounting at the then Draughon's Business College in Columbia, S.C. He then worked twelve years with the Exxon Corporation, then Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, having obtained the job of computer operations manager for the S.C. Division. He moved to Charlotte, N.C. and worked in the N.C. /S.C. Division of Exxon for four years.

Instead of moving to Houston, Texas, for another consolidation, he returned to Columbia, S.C. and worked with S.C. Electric and Gas Department for 24 years in accounting and/or manager of computer operations, followed by payroll department, combined accounts payable and receivable departments, and finally as accounting manager, special projects. He retired from SCE&G on February 1, 1985.

From 1946 to 1975, he was a member of Bethel Methodist Church, Columbia, S.C., where he was a member of the Board of Stewards, Trustees, Pastor- Parish Relations Committee, and an adult Sunday School Teacher. He was involved in the building of the first brick church there, taking the place of a wooden structure. From 1975 to 2008, he was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Columbia, S.C. There he served as chair of the Administrative Board and the council, chairman of the Pastor- Parish Relations Committee, many other Committees and a Sunday School Teacher.

At the time of his death, he was a member of the Central United Methodist Church in Newberry, S.C. While residing in Newberry, he worked diligently to raise funds to build a Chapel at Springfield Place. He was a long time member of the Columbia Country Club and an avid golfer for most of his life.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothy (Dot) Truesdale Horton, whom he married August 24, 1975. He was predeceased by his son, Steven Catherwood Horton. He is also survived by his step- daughter, Beverly Truesdale Meng; his stepson, James Edward Truesdale Jr.; his daughter- in- law, Sharron Knight Horton; and his two beloved grandchildren, Bernard Boyd Meng, IV and Rebecca (Becky) Horton Craven; her husband, Chase Craven and to his great delight and joy, two greatgrandchildren, Harrison Chase Craven and Hollis Catherwood Craven. He was predeceased by his first wife, Winifred Dent Horton, and his sister, Mary Emma Horton Cannon. He is also survived by his nephews, Reverend Barry Cannon and Keith Cannon and his niece, Joan Smith; and numerous nieces, nephews and great- nieces and nephews. The blending of his two families was a joy to him and each one was precious to him.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the exceptional nursing care and concern shown to Mr. Horton by the ICU nurses at NMCH. The family also requests that memorials be made to a charity of your choice.

Funeral services for Thomas Bertram Horton Jr. will be held Thursday, February 26, 2009, at 2 pm at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, with entombment in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends Thursday from 1- 2 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

Please sign the online guest book at www.dunbarfunerals.com