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On November 15, 2013, Cliff Horton passed away peacefully at home at the age of 91, knowing how deeply he was loved by so many people whose lives he had touched. He stayed active and productive up to his final days, with his playful wit and charm still working.
Born in Worcester, MA, Cliff grew up with a passion for science, music, and nature. After receiving a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1943, his education continued with a number of graduate level courses and General Electric's rigorous 3-year Advanced Engineering course, considered equivalent to the technical portion of a PhD.
His engineering career started with RCA in Lancaster, PA, where he met the love of his life, a music teacher named Ruth Duchon Natt. They were immediately drawn together by strong and surprisingly similar tastes in music. Two weeks later, they performed a trio in church, and eight months later, on October 20, 1945, they were married. He never tired of telling the wonderful story of meeting and falling in love with Ruth. They recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. Ruth was a church choir director until she retired at the age of 76, and Cliff always sang in the choir.
After joining General Electric in Schenectady in 1946, Cliff transferred to Advanced Developmental Engineering in Owensboro, KY, doing vacuum tube research. He was later promoted to Consulting Engineer. Two vacation trips to the Colorado Springs area had evoked his early childhood love of the mountains. In 1963 he accepted a position as a physicist there at Kaman Nuclear, where he worked on a widely-used secret handbook on nuclear weapons effects. In 1974, Cliff left Kaman to teach engineering at UCCS until his retirement just before his 71st birthday.
Together, Ruth and Cliff traveled extensively, visiting 20 different countries.
Cliff was a warm and engaging man with an outgoing personality. He was a constant source of jokes, wisecracks, and clever ways of saying things, usually delivered deadpan save for the slightest twinkle in his eye. He loved kids. Ruth describes losing track of him going through customs in China, only to find him surrounded by a throng of Chinese children who laughing uproariously at his magic tricks, pulling coins out of their ears.
Cliff said his greatest joys were a long and happy marriage, two sons he was very proud of, and a home on a large, rocky, tree-covered lot. He enjoyed rustic landscaping and was a true craftsman who could build anything. Cliff felt that life had offered him far more than he had dreamed possible!
Cliff is survived by his wife Ruth, sons Larry and Don, daughter-in-law Mary, grandson Lucas, and sister Barbara.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 5 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions can be made to the church.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
6 Entries
Cliff was one of the finest people we have ever been privileged to know and certainly a best friend. Very sorry to see belatedly of his passing.
Ferd and Wanda Mullersman
March 6, 2015
While I never met Cliff in person, I had the honor of speaking with him on the phone while doing research which focused in part on his father. I learned quickly that he was a man of serious intellect matched only by his delightful sense of humor. He will be missed. That smile which could be heard over a phone line was so powerfully good!! In sympathy, M. Brunsdale
December 2, 2013
I had the privilege of being one of Clifford Horton's students in a mechanical drawing class at UCCS back in 1978. His patience, sense of humor, and dedication to academics were inspiring. One of the hardest courses I ever took. I wouldn't be the engineer I am today without him. He will truly be missed.
Michael Ausec
November 26, 2013
I never knew Clifford Horton's rather impressive and substantial background until now. All I know first-hand, is that he was a Great engineering instructor for me at UCCS, as Junior at Palmer High School, taking preparatory engineering courses for Colorado School of Mines, back in 1980.
Best wishes to his memory, and to his family.
Robert Massey
November 25, 2013
Ruth and family,
Cliff's smile will be missed at St. Paul's. So sorry for your loss.
Gayle Myers
November 25, 2013
Thank you professor Horton. I was your student in the early 1980's. It was a drafting class and I was your worst student. You worked with me tirelessly. Your humor and patience helped me overcome a challenge. Again, thank you.
November 24, 2013
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