Mr. Horace Eugene Willeford, age 89, a resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Magnolia Healthcare & Rehabilitation.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Heritage Funeral Home with Deacon Ray Seibold officiating. Following the service, he will be laid to rest in Friendship Cemetery where military honors will be held by the United States Navy. A visitation will also be held on Thursday from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Born on November 21, 1934, in Culleoka, Tennessee, Horace was the son of the late Humphrey Willeford and the late Mattie Kathleen Alexander Willeford. After attending Culleoka School, he proudly served in the United States Navy during the Korean War aboard the USS John A. Bole Destroyer, acquiring invaluable skills that benefited him throughout his entire life. On October 27, 1956, he married the love of his life, Lenore Catherine Pacewick, who preceded him in death on September 23, 2021.
Horace was a respected businessman in Maury County, dedicating years of service to mechanics, owning service stations and car dealerships, and managing the By-Pass Deli and a local carpet store, all while maintaining his lifelong passion for farming. Outside of work, he enjoyed fishing, watching baseball, and attending auctions. In his earlier years, he enjoyed playing pool and cards. Horace was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church.
He is survived by his children, Kenneth Willeford of Lawrenceburg, TN, Deborah Raia of St. Petersburg, FL, Karen (Tony) Woodall of Lawrenceburg, TN, Diane (Tom) Rosenburg of Spring Hill, TN, brother, John (Holly) Willeford of Hampshire, TN, sisters, Carolyn Harris of Bigbyville, TN, Frances (Alvin) Hayes of Summertown, TN, grandchildren, Tiffany (Tim) Ubele, Kimberly Posnak, Dustin (Nikki) Woodall, Kristen (fiancé, Ethan Stewart) Woodall, and Shelby (Adam) Boron, great grandchildren, SJ, Leira, Avaleigh, Maci, Zoe, Oakleigh, Clementine, and Rowan, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Peggy Hickman, and brothers in law, Dean Hickman and William “Buddy” Harris.
Those serving as pallbearers will be Dustin Woodall, Tim Ubele, Kenneth Willeford, Kimberly Posnak, Adam Boron, and Ethan Stewart.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 406 W. 34th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
