Ira Boyce Horton, Jr., M.D. Mt. Pleasant - Ira Boyce Horton, Jr., M.D., 92, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, widower of Mary Anne Jones Horton entered into eternal rest Wednesday, January 29, 2020. His memorial service will be held Saturday, February 1, 2020 in The Church of the Holy Cross, 352 N. Shelmore Blvd at 3:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. Interment will be Sunday in Memorial Park Cemetery, Orangeburg, SC at 3:00 p.m. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Mount Pleasant Chapel. Ira was born in 1927 in Bethune, South Carolina, son of the late Ira Boyd Horton and Ethel Lois Baker Horton. He served as a hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy detached to the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945. Ira served as a Chief Petty Officer Pharmacy Mate at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. He married his high school sweetheart in 1947. In 1951 Ira entered pharmacy school at the Medical College of South Carolina, including active duty in the Navy during the Korean conflict while attending school. He graduated pharmacy school with Rho Chi honors and then immediately began study toward his Doctor of Medicine. Ira graduated from MUSC with membership in Alpha Omega Alpha (A.O.A.). He practiced family medicine in Orangeburg, SC from 1959-1976. Ira served a term as Chief of Staff at Orangeburg Regional Hospital. He was President of South Carolina Academy of Family Practice 1971-1972. Ira was commissioned as a Captain in the Navy by Congressional appointment in 1976 and was instrumental in the foundation of Navy Family Practice. He served as Chief of Family Practice at the Charleston Naval Hospital from 1976-1981. He served as President of the Armed Forces Academy of Family Practice. From Charleston, Ira moved to other Naval facilities across the United States ending his Naval career as Chief of Medicine for the Naval Sealift Command in Bayonne, NJ in 1989. He served the state of South Carolina as Medical Director of the Department of Health and Human Services until retirement in 2000. Ira was a lifelong Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a lifelong member of the Navy League, the American Academy of Medicine, the South Carolina Academy of Family Practice and Alpha Omega Alpha. Ira is survived by his son, Thomas B. Horton (Millie) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; daughter, Mary Anne Horton Hollingsworth (Eben) of Lexington, KY; two granddaughters: Eleanor R. Hollingsworth of Denver, CO and Caroline B. Hollingsworth (William C. Nigut III) of Atlanta, GA; and sister, Margaret H. Gainey of Bethune, SC. Ira lived his life as a devoted husband, father and grandfather and lifelong follower of Jesus Christ. Memorials may be made to the Star Gospel Mission, 474 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29403 or Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston

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Published by Charleston Post & Courier from Jan. 30 to Jan. 31, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Ira Horton

Sponsored by J. Henry Stuhr Mount Pleasant Chapel.

8 Entries

David Marconi

February 2, 2020

Dear Tom and Millie, Your father was a wonderful and kind man. He and your Mom were truly welcoming to Ann and me when we first arrived in Charleston. RIP

Karen Dorr

February 1, 2020

You and your family are in my prayers during this difficult time.

Cheryl Connelly Spears

February 1, 2020

So sorry for your loss. DR Horton was my fam Dr in Oburg,SC until I was 15. I just loved him. He was so funny and kind. Hate I didn't get to see him any over these last 40 yrs.My deepest sympathies.

Chief Pharmacists Mate

Another Marine

February 1, 2020

Whenever I become aware that another Marine has answered his last muster, I am reminded by words in our Marines' Hymn that tells us, the streets of Heaven are guarded by United States Marines. Well, the Marines believe that our Corpsmen, who care for us and go into battle with us, also follow us to the streets of Heaven. CORPSMAN UP! You still have Marines to care for and important work to do, Doc.
Semper Fi

David snd Pam Stroud

February 1, 2020

Our prayers are with you

Dorothy Sells

January 31, 2020

So sorry for your loss. Keeping you in our prayers.

Julie Holdridge Walker

January 31, 2020

From Julie Walker, friend from Sweetgrass Court
I knew Dr. Ira through the several years my parents were his next door neighbor, and my lunch partner for the 2 years I went daily for lunch with my parents, Gene and Lee. He was my favorite person to always look for when I arrived. I loved my time with Dr. Ira and how interesting he was. I heard a lot about his childhood in Bethune, and his early Naval career in Philadelphia. I was always met with a cheerful, "Hello young lady." He also was a dapper man, fully dressed in shirt, dress pants and bow tie. We had many days of conversations and I have deep affection for Dr. Ira. When groups came to sing, he knew every patriotic, military and gospel song and sang with a vibrant voice.
When I departed after lunch, or he left the lunch table, he would always stand and slightly bow, and asked to be excused to "withdraw to the living room/ or withdraw for a afternoon rest." I have sweet, fond memories of Dr. Ira.
I had the opportunity to meet Tom as he came to take Dr. Ira out for lunch, and I also met Mary Ann when she came to visit Dr. Ira. Warmly, Julie Walker

Harris Murray

January 31, 2020

Dr. Horton was my childhood physician in Orangeburg. I adored him! As a physician for the residents of The Methodist Home, he worked closely with my mother, June Cheatham (supervisor of nursing) and provided compassionate care to the elderly. My mom had the utmost respect for him as a physician and as a compassionate caregiver. My sympathies to his family.

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