Elmer Horst

On Saturday, September 14,2019, Elmer Kent Horst, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at the age of 82. Kent, as he was known to all, was born on July 31, 1937 in Lebanon, PA to Amy Brandt Horst and Elmer Roy Horst. The youngest of five boys, he was nicknamed, “Soc”, after the philosopher Socrates, for his penchant for deep thinking. At the age of 18, he came to Alabama when he joined the Air Force and was stationed at Brookley Field. Here he met his wife of 62 years, Velma Ruth Claxton, and made a life in Mobile raising three sons and a daughter. He was a loyal employee to Bellsouth for 40 years, sang with the choir at Cottage Hill Baptist Church, and loved spending time in his beautiful backyard where he was always working on something.

Kent was preceded in death by his parents, Amy and Elmer; brothers, Herb and Kenneth; and his son, Brian. He is survived by his loving wife, Velma; devoted daughter, Julie Horst Brannon and her boyfriend, Bragg Sapp; sons, Mike and his wife, Debbie; Greg and his wife, Julie; grandchildren, Joshua Brannon, Garrett Horst, Grant Horst, Gabrielle Horst Geiger, Garland Horst, Luke Horst, and Dalton Horst; brothers, Chet and Gene, and many loving nieces and nephews. To know Kent was to love him. He had a kindness towards all that made you want to be a better person. His sharp wit and dry sense of humor always brought a smile to your face. He was truly a fine man that will be so dearly missed. The family would like to offer their gratitude to the special care that Springhill Hospital and their Home Health Care Service provided to Kent.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 12:00 PM from the Chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens on Three Notch Road. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:30am to noon. A private burial will take place at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort.