Chester Edgar Horton

Chester E Horton Jr

April 14, 1932 - January 2, 2026 

Santa Ana, CA

Chester Edgar Horton Jr died peacefully at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange on Saturday, January 2. He was born in Los Angeles on April 14, 1932, the oldest of two sons born to Lillie Williams Horton and Chester Edgar Horton.

The family lived in Santa Ana for generations, operating the Horton Furniture Co. since 1898. Chet, nicknamed “Pete” in his childhood, attended Jefferson Elementary and Willard Junior High in Santa Ana, the Desert Sun School in the Coachella Valley and then the Webb School in Claremont, CA, graduating in 1950. He attended Pomona College in Claremont where he was active in the Glee Club, ROTC, Nu Alpha Phi fraternity, and was president of the Ghosts, an honorary service organization. It was also there that he met Patrice Lee Crowder of Carpinteria. The couple was married one week after graduation on campus in the Bridges Hall of Music on June 20, 1954. Chet worked for a short time at Colgate Palmolive in Berkeley and then entered the Army Reserves from 1955-1957, serving as First Lieutenant in Korea where he was awarded the Commendation Ribbon with Pendant. Following his service, the couple moved to Santa Ana where Chet joined the family business and the couple bought their first and only home on Winthrope Street. In 1963 they purchased a Running Springs mountain cabin that became the family weekend retreat. They also spent summer months touring the western US and Canada in a unique converted camper van. Chet was a long time Rotarian, serving as president of Santa Ana Rotary in 1969-1970. He was an Eagle Scout and served as Scoutmaster of Tustin’s Troop 33. He was a faithful member and Elder of Tustin Presbyterian Church. They sold their home in 2014 and moved to Town and Country Manor where they lived happily ever after. In retirement he and Patty enjoyed Elder hostels, river barge travel and jazz festivals. Chet’s lifelong passions included fly fishing in the Sierras, especially at Rock Creek Lakes, backpacking, bicycle riding, yard work, community involvement and service to others.

He is survived by his brother Doug (Kay) and family; sons, Brian (Tina) of Canyon Lake, CA, Carl ( Jeff) of Louisville, KY and Bloomington, IN, David (Paula) of Temecula, CA; his grandson Ryan (Chailenn) and 2 great-grandsons Colt and Callum of Keystone, SD. A private burial will be at Fairhaven Memorial Park. Please join the family for a Service of Life and Resurrection at Tustin Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, February 3 at 2:30 pm. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Tustin Presbyterian Church.