Kathleen Hortman

Kathleen Hortman, age 92, of Elkhart, went to be with the Lord on the 22nd day of June 2021.  She was born on the 11th day of December 1928, in rural Houston County Texas. 

Kathleen had a lifelong service to family, friends, church, and community.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church for 74 consecutive years.  She was gifted with a wonderful singing voice and sang in the choir and for special occasions in many capacities.  

Kathleen co-labored with Marion serving their community as volunteers; Room Mother, PTA Officer, Cub Scouts, 4-H, March of Dimes, Polio Eradication Vaccine Initiative, Elkhart Lions Club, United Church Charities, Elkhart Medical Center, Palestine Regional Medical Center, and served on two state-wide legislative committees involving public education.

She loved to have company and was a good cook and hostess.  The family often had guests in their home, including family members, friends, Sunday School Classes, Pastors, traveling evangelists, missionaries, schoolteachers and administrators, students, local and state elected officials, guests from other nations and other religions.  She welcomed them all.

Kathleen is survived by her husband of 74 years, Marion Hortman; their children, Darell and wife Elvie, Lonnie and wife Connie, Jackie and husband Tim Christian, David and wife PokHui, and Patricia Gruetzner; grandchildren, Jonathan Hortman, Joseph Hortman, Joanna Hortman Baughman, Josh Hortman, Jordan Hortman, Steven Christian, Miriam Christian Jackson, Katy Christian Slagle, Wilson Gruetzner, Jessica Gruetzner; numerous step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Kathleen is preceded in death by an infant son, her parents Ora Parker Masten and Benjamin Masten, and son-in-law, Bill Gruetzner.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 25th day of June 2021 in the Rhone Memorial Chapel.

A funeral service to celebrate Kathleen Hortman’s life is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 26th day of June 2021 at First Baptist Church in Elkhart with Bro. Jason Hoffman officiating.  Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Jonathan Hortman, Joseph Hortman, Josh Hortman, Steven Christian, Chris Villar, and Wilson Gruetzner.  Honorary pallbearers will be Jason Baughman, Robert Slagle, Brandon Jackson, D’Andre Adams, and Michael Shepherd.

The family wishes to extend special appreciation to niece Myrna Gilcrease Stovall, who was an especially close friend, and who diligently, quietly, and selflessly looked after Marion and Kathleen in their later years.

Funeral services for Kathleen Hortman are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas.  

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