Claude Robert (Bob) Horton, Jr. was born in Laurel, MS to Claude and Eunice Horton on December 20th, 1940. He moved to Ellisville, MS when he was 10 and graduated from Ellisville High School in 1958. He attended Miss. State University, earning a BS in General Science/Chemistry and a commission as a 2nd Lt. in the USAF in the summer of 1962. He attended pilot training at Craig AFB, Selma, AL flying T-37 and T-33 aircraft, earning his pilot wings in December of 1963. He went to Dyess AFB, TX, checking out in C-130 aircraft and meeting his future wife, Bebe Diane Moore. His career took him to Okinawa, Japan, Taiwan, Sewart AFB, TN, Germany, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Thailand. Along the way, he earned the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and numerous other awards and decorations. He was also presented the Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Silber by the German Government. His jobs included instructor pilot in C-130 and MC-130 aircraft; staff action officer in Pacific Command, at HQ Tactical Air Command and at the Joint Chiefs of Staff levels; Commander of 7575th Operations Group and Deputy Commander for Operations at Pope, AFB, NC. Bob was a Command Pilot with over 5,000 flying hours. After retiring from the Air Force in 1989 with 27 years’ service, Bob worked for 10 years with a defense contractor in the Fort Walton Beach, FL area. After his wife Diane died in 1995, Bob met and married Marilyn Baumann in April of 1997. Bob’s greatest joy was being with his children and grandchildren. A memorial service will be conducted on July 29, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at Trinity United Methodist Church. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service. Flowers will be received by the family or donations made to Trinity United Methodist Church or a Veteran’s organization of your choice. Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 161 Racetrack Rd, NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL is entrusted with the arrangements.

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