Lee University News Article: Dr. David Horton Dies Suddenly on Choir Tour: Funeral is Saturday
Funeral services for Dr. David Horton have been scheduled for Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at the North Cleveland Church of God. The family will receive visitors Friday at Rush Funeral Home from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m.
Dr. David Horton, a veteran member of the Lee University music faculty, died suddenly Monday evening following an apparent heart attack.
Horton was in Nassau, Bahamas, on the first day of a post-commencement ministry tour with Campus Choir when he was stricken. His wife Virginia was with him as they returned to their hotel following dinner when he suddenly collapsed and was rushed to a hospital.
"We are all stunned and deeply saddened by this unexpected loss," said president Dr. Paul Conn. "There are few people who have ever made such a huge impact on the life of Lee University as Dr. Horton has made. He and his wife Virginia have poured themselves into the lives of so many students. All of us - his students, his Campus Choir members and alumni, and his colleagues - can hardly imagine a Lee University without him."
Dr. Conn said the Campus Choir tour is being cancelled, and all members of the group are being brought back to campus "as soon as we can arrange flights." Campus pastor Dr. Jimmy Harper (Campus Pastor) and Dr. Carolyn Dirksen (Vice President for Academic Affairs) have travelled to Nassau and are now there to work with the choir members and supervise their return to Cleveland. Conn said he expects all students will be back in Cleveland by midnight Wednesday night, and arrangements are being made for their accomodations on campus until after the funeral service.
Dr. Conn said the university is trying to reach all parents of the 70-plus choir members who are in Nassau, and urged any who have not been reached to call his office at 423-614-8603, or email at pconn@leeuniversity.edu, for updated information about their students.
No information is yet available for the memorial service. "Because of where this happened," Conn said, "the arrangements are more complex, and we will share information through the Lee website as soon as we can."
"Right now, we can only pray for Virginia and Jonathan (their son), and be thankful for the many ways Dr. Horton touched so many lives."
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