Mr. Benjamin Franklin Horton, age 90, of Hardinsburg, Indiana formerly of Madison, entered this life on June 8, 1927 in Trimble County, Kentucky. He was the loving son of the late Hobart and Amy Gertrude Chandler Horton. His family moved to Jefferson County when he was five years old and he received his GED after entering the military. Ben enlisted in the United States Army in 1947 and went through basic training. In 1948 after Japan's surrender to the United States, he was sent over to occupy Japan and all of its islands to help keep the peace. Ben went to Tokyo to a replacement depot where he continued to train and was sent out in different infantries. He ended up serving in the 11th Infantry. He then served in the 14th Combat Engineers Infantry to help build bridges and to help clear mine fields using metal detectors. During this first tour to Japan, he was sent on temporary duty for six months on Okinawa Island where he worked on fighter aircrafts. He then served as the Fire Chief at a fire station in a small Japanese town. He was kept very busy due to the many house fires due to the light wood and paper wall construction of the homes. In 1949 Ben was sent on his first tour to Korea helping to patrol the 38th parallel. When the Korean War started, Ben was sent back to the States to Fort Lewis and was hospitalized for six months and continued to serve for one more year with another tour in Korea. In 1952 he served in the Mechanized Cavalry as a recon scout. He was honorably discharged in 1953 and returned home to work in a chocolate milk factory in Indianapolis. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1954 and was stationed in Fairbanks and Elmendorf, Alaska serving there for four years. In 1959 he was sent to the Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida and spent six months being trained on Fire Control and Radar Systems. On October 12, 1957, Ben was united in marriage to Delores Joan Hall in Long Beach, California. This happy union of nearly 55 years was blessed with children, Diana, Sandy, Janet, Jim and Sue. In 1960 he served another tour in Japan. From 1963-1966 Ben was stationed at Klamath Falls, Oregon and then in Denver to teach Radar and Fire Control Systems to other military personnel. He then would serve again at Tyndall in Panama where he again would teach until being honorably discharged in February 28, 1970 during the Vietnam War and was retired to the reserve. He received two Bronze Stars, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Force Medal. In the 20 years of service to his country, he only flew on two airplanes with all of his other travels by ship. Ben would return home to Jefferson County and the family resided in Brooksburg from 1970-1997. He owned and operated Horton's Appliance Repair from 1970 retiring in 2015. He also worked part-time for Greves TV and Appliances. Ben was baptized at the Brushy Fork Baptist Church near Pleasant. Ben enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, hunting mushrooms, metal detecting, watching sporting events of his grandchildren and being with his family. Ben died on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at 2:30 a.m. at his son's home in Hardinsburg, Indiana.

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A LOVING FAMILY
Ben will be missed by his loving daughters, Diana Kerns of Madison, Indiana, Sandy Wiggs and her husband, Benjamin of Cloverdale, Indiana, Janet Daugherty of Madison, Indiana, Sue Dudley and her husband, Jon of Boise, Idaho; his loving son, Jim Horton and his wife, Michelle of Hardinsburg, Indiana; his grandchildren, Kelli Pennington, Ryan "Seth" Pennington, Tyler Wiggs (Jenny), Morgan Wiggs Tucker (Mike), Chance Barnes (Brittani), Dylan Barnes (Sarah), Sierra Shouse (Steven), Bree Barnes, Allison Horton Sode (Luke), Walker Horton, Haley Dudley, and Caleb Dudley; his great grandchildren, Reece Pennington, Kennedy Wiggs, Sawyer Wiggs, Mya Wiggs, Lane Tucker, Gage Tucker, Elliana Barnes, Colton Barnes, Cason Barnes, Kinlee Shouse and Maximus Sode; his sister, Joanne "Jodie" Richmond of Franklin, Indiana; his brother, Charles Horton and his wife, Susie of Madison, Indiana; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Hobart Horton, his mother, Amy Gertrude Chandler Horton, his beloved wife of nearly 55 years, Delores Joan Hall Horton, died September 7, 2012, his brothers, Douglas Horton, his sisters, Evelyn Horton, Norma Horton, Nellie Wallace, Dorothy Jean Poynter, and Audrey Cannon.

PRIVATE FUNERAL CEREMONY
Private services will be conducted Monday, April 30, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., by Ron Greves at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1415 North Gate Road in Madison, Indiana.

PRIVATE VISITATION
Private family visitation will be Monday from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana.

MILITARY HONORS
A final salute will be conducted on Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre with full military honors to follow at the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel by Jefferson Post 9 of the American Legion and the United States Air Force Ceremonial Unit.

MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS
Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans. Cards are available at the funeral home. Online condolences, www.morgan-nay.com