Jane Ward Horton

Jane Ward (Donahue) Horton - July 1, 1929 - March 30, 2025. God called Jane to her heavenly home on March 30, 2025. Jane was the third of four daughters born to a preacher in Pittsburgh, PA. Growing up, church activities were the center of life for Jane. As a teenager, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a youth camp. Jane felt called to be a missionary overseas, but God had other plans for her. Initially Jane served as a Deaconess at the Deaconess home in Philadelphia, PA and attended seminary in Hartford, CT. During a train ride to Hartford Jane met her first husband, Chris. Together they had three girls and initially lived in Virginia, the Philadelphia area and then New Jersey. Then in 1964, Chris accepted a job in Castine, ME. Jane, Chris and their three girls moved to Maine. Over the next 58 years, Jane lived out her dream to be a missionary spreading the love of Christ to those she came in contact with. From 1967 to 1992 Jane taught at a preschool program and then kindergarten, second and third grade in the public school in Blue Hill, ME. In 1982, after the death of her first husband, Jane married Ted Horton, a widower with three sons. She was active in Christian Women’s Club and hosted the Meals for Me program in Penobscot, ME. Jane was also active with Joni and Friends serving on the prayer team and encouraging moms of children with a disability. In 2022, Jane moved to Rhode Island with her daughter and son-in-law. She continued ministering to others by sending cards and making calls to encourage friends and family members. Jane had the gift of encouragement. Her words and cards have been treasured by many. The love and words of encouragement Jane has poured into the lives of countless people will be truly missed. Jane was predeceased by her first husband, Christopher Donahue, her second husband Theodore Horton, grandson Christopher Barry, granddaughter Crystal O’Donnell, and sisters Marguerite Ward Jennings and Louise Ward Stock. She is survived by three daughters, Sheila O’Donnell (William) of Bucksport, ME, Sandy Midura (Steve) of Warwick, RI and Sallie Donahue (fiancé Daniel Cardinal) of Lacey, WA. Three stepsons, Richard Horton (Phoebe) of Blue Hill, ME, Kerry Horton (Dominique) of Brooklyn, ME and Timothy Horton of Blue Hill, ME. One sister, Ruth Ward Lawley of Sarasota, FL and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many special friends. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Hope Church, 1114 Scituate Ave, Cranston, RI 02921 on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospital, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01104.

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Jane Ward Horton

March 30, 2025