Marion Franklin Hortman

Marion Franklin Hortman, age 99, of Palestine, Texas, was born on September 24, 1926, in the family farmhouse west of Elkhart, Texas. He passed away on July 24, 2026, at The Hospice of East Texas Homeplace in Tyler, Texas.

Marion attended Elkhart Public Schools and upon graduation, he joined the Navy, serving during World War II in the China-Burma-India theatre, Africa, and Australia. Upon completion of his Navy service, he joined the family business in Elkhart, married Kathleen Barbee, and dedicated himself to actively serving the community. Marion became active in the First Baptist Church of Elkhart, serving as a deacon for the next 75 years. He served in the Elkhart Volunteer Fire Department; took disabled veterans to their appointments at the VA hospital. Marion was a founding member of the Elkhart Lions Club and regularly arranged for children in Elkhart with disabilities to attend the Texas Lions Camp for Children with Disabilities; organized the administration of the Salk polio vaccine in Elkhart.

He served multiple terms on the Elkhart School Board and on the Elkhart City Council. Marion's most significant contribution to the Elkhart community may be his vision for a medical center, and working tirelessly to obtain funding through grants, donations, and sometimes bringing unlikely partners together while using his own funds and labor to keep the project going. The facility is now part of the Christus system. Marion eventually retired from the family business and became the rural mail carrier for Elkhart for the next 20 years where he became friends with many of the people on his route.

Marion's wife, Kathleen Barbee Hortman predeceased him, as did his infant son and his parents, brothers and sisters.

Marion is survived by his son Darell & wife Elvie of Palestine; son Lonnie & wife Connie of Mexia, Texas; daughter Jacquelyn & husband Tim Christian of Bryson City, North Carolina; son David & wife PokHui of Montalba, Texas; daughter Patricia Gruetzner and husband Terry McNeely of Montalba, Texas. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Jonathan Hortman, Joseph Hortman, Joanna Hortman-Baughman, Josh Hortman, Jordan Hortman-Coomer, Steven Christian, Miriam Christian Jackson, Katy Christian Slagle, Wilson Gruetzner, Jessica Gruetzner, Cynthia Adams and Stephanie Krauskoph, and 23 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from five o'clock until seven o'clock in the evening on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Rhone Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be conducted at ten o'clock in the morning on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Elkhart First Baptist Church with Bro. Jason Hoffman officiating the service. Graveside services with Military Honors will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Marion's grandsons, Jonathan Hortman, Joseph Hortman, Josh Hortman, Steven Christian, Randall Krauskopf, and Wilson Gruetzner.

Marion and the family wish to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of Dogwood Trails Assisted Living in Palestine, Texas for providing personal and compassionate care for him.

Funeral services for Marion Franklin Hortman are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas. Please visit his online memorial tribute at www.rhonefuneralhome.com, where words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.