Thelma A. Horton

Belmont, NY - Thelma A. Horton, 81, a former resident of 82 Greenwich Street entered her heaven of rest to be with her Blessed Savior on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville. She was born on June 8, 1928 in Belmont the daughter of Kenneth C. and Laconia (Thomas) Norton. She was blessed by having the love of two fathers, the other being George W. Potter who raised her. On June 15, 1946 she married her childhood sweetheart, Frank Horton who predeceased her on August 22, 1991.

Thelma attended Belmont High School and graduated from Buffalo East High School in 1945. Prior to her marriage, she was employed as a bookkeeper and assistant buyer for the wholesale / retail firm of H. L. Wagner Company in Buffalo, NY and prior to her retirement she was employed by the Allegany County Office for the Aging. Thelma and her husband were charter members of the Allegany County ARC; founded in 1961. She served the ARC for many years as secretary, treasurer, as a member of the Board of Directors and a member of several special committees. In 1990 she was honored with a plaque from the ARC for "Significant Years of Service". In 1970 she founded and was President of the Allegany County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities. She was instrumental in establishing the first class for emotionally handicapped children in Allegany County. Through her efforts and funding from Shriners Club, she was able to purchase the film "Why Billy Couldn't Learn" which was used as a teaching tool throughout Allegany County.

Thelma was a former member and secretary of the Herbert W. Delong American Legion Auxiliary Unit # 808 in Belmont, former member of the Allegheny Valley Antique Auto Club of America, a member and past secretary at the Belmont First United Methodist Church and for several years she was facilitator for the Allegany County Alzheimer's Support Group.

She is survived by be her beloved children, Jerry (Jan) Horton of Vandling, PA, Kenneth (Mary) Horton of Cuba, Christopher D. Horton of Belmont, Kathleen Rulison and Tina Horton of Belmont, Vicki (John) Hall of Penn Yan and Honor (Timothy) Kinney of Tarpon Springs FL, 14 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, 2 brothers, Wendell (Kathleen) Norton of Friendship and Virgil Potter of Houghton, one sister, Irma (Marti) Numeracki of Belmont and several nieces & nephews. She was predeceased by a grandson, Christian Horton in 1992, who spent most of his young life with her, a sister, Margaret Haynes and a brother, Wilfred Norton.

Friends are invited to call on Sunday from 2-4 & 7-9 at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Belmont and Monday, December 28, 2009 from 10-11 am at the Belmont First United Methodist Church. The funeral will follow at 11 am in the church with Rev. Douglas Childress and Pastor Dick Helms presiding. Burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery in Scio. Memorial donations are suggested to the Allegany ARC, the Amity Rescue Squad or the Gideons.