Dr. Jowell Dean "Doc" Horton

Dr. Jowell Dean “Doc” Horton, 81 of Abilene, passed away on Saturday May 15, 2021.  A graveside service will be on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene.  A time of visitation with the family will be on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.

Dean Horton was born in Dallas, Texas on October 23, 1939 to Cecil Tom and Edna Belle Horton.  In August of 1968, he enlisted in the Navy and attended Dental School for 4 years before entering active service in 1972.  For the next 5 years, Dean served as a Navy dentist at various bases along the east coast of the United States.  While in Dental School, he married Diana Deteau on August 23, 1969 in Longview, Texas.  Following his discharge from active duty in 1977, Dean continued to serve in the Naval Reserves for the next 28 years, retiring as a Captain in the U.S. Navy.  In July of 1981, Dean and Diana moved to Abilene where he started his private practice and served the Abilene area for 20 years.  He was a member of the Texas Dental Association, a faithful member at Trinity Baptist Church, taught martial arts to the students at Team Chip and loved coaching his children in all the different sports they played.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Tom & Edna Horton, sister Patricia Ann Hitt and brother-in-law Richard Roland Deteau.  He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Diana Horton of Abilene; son Keith Edgar Horton of North Bend, Washington; daughters Amanda Herr of Odessa, Dr. Elizabeth Schaeffer of Abilene and Dr. Pamela Walker of Ralph, Alabama; brother Tommy Horton and wife Martha of Tomball, Texas, sisters-in-law Donna Deteau and Diane Deteau; 10 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dean’s name to the Wounded Warriors Project at support.woundedwarriorsproject.org/donate, or Samaritan’s Purse at samaritanspurse.org.

Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.