Anna Jane Horton, nee Hunt, of Saint Louis passed away peacefully in her own home June 1st, after a valiant battle with heart failure. Anna was born October 23, 1949 in Columbus, Ohio and raised on a dairy farm just outside of Centerburg, Ohio (a small town near Columbus). She was Valedictorian of her 1967 Centerburg High School Class. Anna graduated summa cum laude from the Conservatory of Capital University in Columbus with a major in Orchestral Performance (1971). She then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Library Science from Kent State University.
Anna worked for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, primarily in the Art and Music department, for 30 years, retiring in 2002 as Head of that department. On the occasion of her retirement, her service was recognized by the State Senate of Ohio and February 28th, 2002, was declared by proclamation of Mayor Charlie Luken to be “Anna Horton Day” in Cincinnati.
Moving to Saint Louis in 2003, Anna continued her career as a librarian at the Concordia Historical Institute (on the campus of Concordia Seminary in Clayton) for 15 years. She was also the organist at Epiphany Lutheran Church South City (playing their magnificent pipe organ) for more than 10 years, and was involved in numerous other musical groups during her years of affiliation with Peace Lutheran Church, Green Park Lutheran School, Laclede Groves, and others – as a choir member, accompanist on piano, or playing additional instruments.
On August 1st, 1987, Anna married William Roderick “Rod” Horton, III in Cincinnati. After many years of tragic struggles with infertility, the couple welcomed a son, William Warren Horton (Billy/Bill) in Cincinnati on January 16, 1993.
In the year 2000, while still in Cincinnati, Anna was diagnosed with Stage 4 non‑Hodgkins Lymphoma. She continued working full-time and taking care of her family while undergoing massive chemo-therapy, which successfully cleared the disease.
In 2010, in Saint Louis, the disease returned and Anna again faced a battle with Stage 4 cancer. Beyond her chemo‑therapy, she spent a month in the Siteman Cancer Center, which thankfully had advanced new techniques available. However, the treatment plan would be more difficult than ever: including the harvesting of her own bone marrow and stem cells prior to chemo‑therapy, then transplants of the preserved bone marrow and stem cells back into her.
Anna had the strength and determination to persevere, and with God’s grace, her disease went into successful remission again. While significant damage to her heart was an unavoidable drawback of her two cancer battles, she was consistently and vocally a positive person who was grateful for her additional decades of life since her original diagnosis. Anna was active with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a volunteer for the rest of her life, counselling other victims across the country via telephone and internet. She was also active with Moms Demand Action, lobbying State and local officials to promptly and sensibly address gun violence.
Anna was a passionate and action-focused person. She rarely hesitated to do what was right and put full effort into her core interests: her Faith, family, friends, music, and the health and well‑being of her community. Anna was a beloved wife and mother, beloved by her church family at Epiphany, and beloved by all who had the privilege of knowing her well. She is survived by her husband, Rod, her son, Billy, and her daughter-in-law, Alicia Rae Horton, nee Hager—all of Saint Louis, and various cousins across the United States.
SERVICES: A memorial service will be held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 4045 Holly Hills Blvd., Saint Louis, 63116 at 11 AM on Monday, June 16th. Following the service there will be a reception in the church’s fellowship hall, from 12 – 2 PM. A luncheon will be provided. All are welcome to both events. The Horton family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Anna’s honor may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (such as by visiting: www.lls.org/ways-to-give).
Thank you to all who have offered kind words and support of all varieties during this challenging time. As a family, we hope to be like Anna and persist forward with grace and with love in our hearts.