Frederick Charles (Freddie) Horton

Frederick (Freddie) Charles Horton, age 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, N.C.  He was born on August 21, 1936 in Raleigh, N.C. to Ernest and Lola (Tweetie) Horton. He was a graduate of Hugh Morson High School in 1954. After graduation, he served our country in the Navy while stationed in Hawaii. He then attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia to further his education. Freddie was happily married to Julia Belcher for 48 years. Together, they raised two sons, David and Jeff. He spent many years as a dedicated employee for Bolton Heating and Air. He became known as the “Master of Controls” when he successfully opened and operated his own business (Mechanical Controls) for 50 plus years. He took great pride in his second business, Longview Grocery Store, where his wife, Julia, served the best hot dogs in town.  Julia was loved and admired by all the neighborhood kids for her generosity of rewarding the children with a free Pepsi for good grades. Freddie truly lived life to the fullest acknowledging always his gratitude for a wonderful and blessed life. He had a charismatic, compassionate and generous personality that fostered the vast circle of personal friends who admired his irresistible “wit” and positive approach to life. For years, he had his pilot’s license and he owned 3 planes which he flew to Myrtle Beach to dance to shag beach music in the sand. He also had a passion for classical music. His dream career was to be an English professor and Shakespeare was his favorite. He was also a History buff who enjoyed travel and adventure. His absolute favorite hobby was watching the good “ole” Western movies. In 2006, he joined the William G. Hill Masonic Lodge in Raleigh. He was very actively involved and admired by his brotherhood. Freddie was predeceased by his wife, Julia. He is survived by his sister, Pat McClain, his brother-in-law, Harold McClain, his son David Horton, his son, Jeff Horton, and his grandson, Ryan Horton. Family, friends and all whose lives were touched by Freddie are invited to a visitation on Tuesday, May 15th at 1:00 p.m. at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, N.C. A Celebration of Life ceremony will follow immediately after the visitation at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Freddie’s memory to the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield.