Selma G. Horton Obituary (1929 - 2013)

Selma G. Horton, 84, of Pana, died Friday, July 5, 2013 in her home. She was born May 15, 1929 in Olmsted, IL to Willie A. and Carrie Jane Miller Richter. She married William R. Horton on August 17, 1956 in Pana. They had had two sons, Mark W. (Deborah) Horton of Auburn, IL and Todd A. Horton of Reno, NV, and they both survive. She is also survived by a granddaughter, Carrie M. Horton of Decatur, IL; brother, William C. (Lois) Richter of Olmsted, IL; sister, Anna Marie (Dale) Nobbe of Coffeen, IL; and nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded by her husband on March 4, 2009 and her parents. She graduated from Mound City Community High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from SIU-Carbondale, her special education certification from ISU-Normal, and her Master of Science in Education from Millikin University. She taught nine years in Pana and 27 in Taylorville, until her retirement. Selma was a member of the education association at the local, state, and national levels. After retirement, she joined the Christian County Retired Teachers and was a lifetime member of the state Retired Teachers' Foundation. After retiring, she volunteered as an ombudsman with I CARE. This organization was sponsored by the Retired Teachers' Foundation, and the ombudsmen visited nursing home residents to help with their problems. During this time, she was chosen as the 2000 Volunteer of the Year by the I CARE Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. The Horton's were involved with the AFS program and were host parents for the following foreign students: Juan - Spain, Becsi - Brazil, Pete - Belgium, Monica - Bolivia, Milton - Brazil, and Neva - Turkey. After working for the Tanners several years, she and her husband owned and operated the Roseland Theatre for 12 years. They were also chosen Grand Marshalls for the Pana Labor Day Parade in 2004. As a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, she taught several different ages in Sunday School, held different offices in the Ladies guild, and served a term as Zone chairman of the Decatur Zone of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. She also sang in the choir. Funeral Information Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2013 in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pana at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Terrence E. O'Brien officiating. Burial will be in Millersville Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home.