DOUGLAS JAMES HORTON

7 January 1942 – 21 December 2025

Douglas James Horton, Captain, USN (Ret) (USNA class of 1964), passed away at the age of 83, on 21 December 2025, in Temecula, CA. Doug was born on 7 January 1942, in Detroit, MI, the son of the late Donald H. and Helen Henrickson Horton. He is survived by his wife Patricia, three sons, Keith (Laurie); of Peoria, AZ; Kenneth of Columbus, OH; and Kevan (Becky) of Temecula, CA; a stepson, James Procuniar (Catie) of Katy, TX; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Donna Horton Timmons (Pryor) of Hilliard, OH.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy, Doug married Charlotte Jacqueline Bodner (deceased), the mother of his three sons. While at the Academy he was a member of the Naval Academy Choir and had a life-long interest in vocal music which continued with participation in Barbershop groups in Illinois and California. Doug was also an enthusiastic rose gardener for many years.

Doug served on active duty for 12 years in submarines, beginning with the Bang (SS-385). He then took a two-year break for graduate school at Stanford University where he earned a master’s degree in electrical and industrial engineering. After graduate school, he attended nuclear power school, made five Polaris patrols on the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), and worked on the Seawolf (SSN-575) while it was in overhaul and special-equipment testing at Mare Island. He then completed two years on the CINCLANT staff. Following active duty, Doug spent nine years (four years of command) in submarine reserve units in Great Lakes and Navy Pier (Chicago).

Leaving active duty in 1976, Doug was employed as National Energy and Facilities Manager for McDonald's Corporation in Oakbrook, IL. While there, he also completed an MBA at the University of Chicago. After follow-on assignments in equipment engineering and purchasing he left McDonald’s in 1990, to begin independent consulting to the restaurant-equipment industry. In this capacity, he spent several years presenting seminars around the country assisting in restaurant ventilation technology, food processing, plant-fire investigations, and workplace safety.

Doug was very astute in computer technology and built many desktop computers for himself and others. He was also an avid Microsoft Flight Simulator enthusiast, building a large 3 LCD screen simulator with realistic controls in his home. Doug then earned a private pilot certificate and instrument rating in 2000-2001; afterward, he flew both a Piper Dakota and a Cessna 182 out of Aurora Municipal Airport (AUZ). However, he never lost his enthusiasm for the flight simulation community and routinely wrote review articles for Computer Pilot Magazine. Additionally, he continued to enjoy his realistic simulation at home for many years after he discontinued active flying.

Captain Horton will be interred with full military honors at the Riverside National Cemetery on 9 January 2026, and a celebration of life will be observed at the Vineyard Ranch assisted living facility in Temecula, on 10 January. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or any other charity in Doug’s name.

The England Family Mortuary in Temecula is serving the family.