A Marine combat veteran and career fireman, Horton Holcombe was born Oct.20,1930 to Juliet and Edmund Holcomb in Westfield, MA. He grew up in Simsbury, CT where his father was a chauffeur and worked for the water company. His Mom was a housewife who took pride in filling 1st Aid kits during WWII among other activities. He and his 2 older brothers, fraternal twins, played sports and had fun growing up in a small American town.
At Simsbury High, Horton excelled in sports, especially basketball, setting the school record for most points scored! After graduation in 1949, Horton enlisted in the Marines where he was an infantryman in the 1st Marine Division. He took part in the invasion of Inchon, landing on Blue Beach in Sept.,1950. He fought in Korea through Dec.,1950 enduring temperatures 30 to 60 degrees below 0.
After 3 years in the Marines and making the rank of Sergeant, Horton returned to Simsbury and married his sweetheart, Lorraine. She convinced him to volunteer for the fire department, which resulted in a 22 year career at the Hartford Fire Department. While there, he was awarded a medal for saving a man’s life and earned the rank of Lieutenant before retiring.
Horton and his wife of 63 years, Lorraine, enjoyed travel and reading. Lorraine worked for a large law firm that provided perks like free shows and sporting events that they also enjoyed together. A special highlight is a birthday memory when serendipitously the President’s Marine Corp Band sang “Happy Birthday” to him when staying in the same hotel! Horton says “it was a very special moment.”
In 1983, the couple moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Several years later, they decided to move into an assisted living facility in Palm Bay, FL. After Lorraine died in May of 2019, Horton moved to Heather Glen to be closer to his nieces.
Horton is very proud of his Marine service, and he also fondly recalls his fire fighting days and displays memorabilia from that time in his apartment here at Heather Glen. He likes the “quiet living” here, enjoys the good food, and delights in making everyone laugh.