Raymond Thomas Horton

Age 90, of Columbia Heights, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2022.

Ray was born April 9, 1931 in Havre, Montana, son of Raymond and Betty Horton (nee Nelson).  He would later move to Foxboro, WI and finally McGregor MN, where he attended Bell Horn Bay school and McGregor High School. Ray enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1948 and served until 1952. Following his honorable discharge from the Marines, he embarked on a career as a Tool and Die maker in the Twin Cities and moved to Columbia Heights. On December 2, 1961 he married Janette Wilsmann of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. They would spend the next 59 years together.

Ray had a love and deep knowledge of history, particularly of the Civil War, Montana, and World War II. He was one of the charter members forming the Twin Cities Civil War Roundtable in 1954; a group whose meetings, activities, trips, and friendships he thoroughly enjoyed over the next 68 years. At the time of his passing Ray was the last surviving Charter Member of the Roundtable. Following his retirement, Ray and Jan travelled extensively to historically significant places throughout the United States, as well as Jerusalem, Greece, and Slovakia.

In retirement Ray took on a second career of volunteering for many organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, The Minneapolis Library special collections, and for many years was a regular at the Armed Forces Service Center at the airport. He was also an active member for many years of the Marine Corps League (Viking Detachment) and the Columbia Heights Lions.

Ray is survived by sons, Raymond III (Montimarie) of Aitkin, MN, Christopher (Lori) of Rosemount, MN; daughter, Sheila Rinne (Nathan) of Columbia Heights; grandchildren, Delany (Matt), Azalea, Samuel, Simeon, Micah, Daniel, Victoria, David, Raymond IV, Max, Josephine, and Jacob; great-grandson, Callum; brother-in-law, Paul Wilsmann (Carole); nephew, Timothy Wilsmann; niece, Kristen Herriges, of Milwaukee, WI.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Janette.

The family wishes to recognize and thank Lee and Breanna Panzer and their staff at Family Tree Care Homes in New Brighton for the wonderful and loving care that Ray received these last two years. The family also wishes to thank Peter McClellan and the staff of 401(k) Latte for many years of wise counsel and stewardship in retirement planning.

Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers to the Twin Cities Civil War Roundtable.

Funeral service 11:30 AM Friday, January 21 at PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7700 Monroe Street NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432. Interment Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation Thursday, January 20 from 5 to 8 PM and 1 hour before the service on Friday, ALL at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.