Howard D. Horton, 97, of Ankeny Iowa, formerly of Newark Valley, New York, died October 1, 2026. Howard was born May 16, 1929. He was the son of William & Margaret Horton. Howard was a graduate of Newark Valley Central School (class of 1948), Practical Bible Training School (Binghamton NY) and Barrington College (Barrington Rhode Island).

Visitation with the Horton family will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Ankeny Baptist Church (2842 SW 3rd St Pl, Ankeny, IA) with a memorial service following at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will also take place from10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 17, 2026, at First Baptist Church (40 Whig St, Newark Valley, NY) followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m., at the same location.

Howard was a military veteran (US Navy). He served as pastor of Grapeville Baptist Church (Grapeville NY). Following this ministry, Howard taught sixth grade at Newark Valley Central School and served as administrator at Deposit (NY) Central School. He also served numerous churches in central New York as an interim pastor. Among those churches were Second Baptist Church, Auburn NY, Dryden Baptist Church, and several stints at Moravia Baptist Church. He was a member of Ankeny Baptist Church, Ankeny Iowa.

He is survived by daughters, Debra (Dr. David) Strope, (Ankeny Iowa) and Dianna Collingwood (Lakewood Colorado); grandchildren, Katherine (Hosea) Rodriguez, Elisabeth (Brian) Jeffords, Rebekah (Kimberly) Strope-Bogus, David Andrew (Jessica) Strope, and Benjamin Collingwood; great-grandchildren, Marina Phillips, Ava Rodriguez; Victoria, Alexander, Emmeline and Eleanor Jeffords, Journey, Jacob, Westin, and Olive Strope-Bogus, and Rowyn, Ryker, and Reagan Strope; and great-great-grandsons, Ezekiel Phillips and Grayson Spencer. Howard was preceded in death by his wife Shirley.

Howard’s delight was being “Bomps” to his 20 grands. A longtime resident of Newark Valley and Vestal NY, Howard lived the last nine years as an Iowa transplant, enjoying the care and ministry of his Iowa family.

Special thanks are shared with the caregivers and nursing staff at Mill Pond Care Center, Ankeny Iowa and Unity Point Hospice.

Howard loved the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving the gift of eternal life through God’s gracious gift at Calvary. He served Christ faithfully as a son, husband, father, “Bomps”, pastor, teacher and friend. “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord!”