Eugene Stratton Horres

The Lord called home into eternal rest an incredible man on the morning of February 13, 2012, Eugene S. Horres, Sr., husband of Ramona Blocker Horres. Residence, Charleston, SC. The relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Horres are invited to attend the memorial service of the former, Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:00 AM at John Wesley United Methodist Church. Private entombment services will be at Holy Cross Cemetery on Friday morning.

Mr. Horres was born July 14, 1917 in Holly Hill, SC, the son of Henry Horres and Ethel Rumph Horres was the last of nine children. He attended George Washington University and served with the United States Navy as an esteemed member of Special Devices Division, an elite research and development program during World War II. He was described by his colleagues as "one of the columns holding up the temple," noted for his ideas and inventions which were classified at that time. During the war, he was sent to South America to assist in training Allied Sailors on how to fire artillery and utilize other ordnance on warships.

Upon Discharge from the Navy, he continued his inventive ways with The Douglas Leigh Company, an advertising powerhouse in New York City. Douglas Leigh and his company were responsible for designing the lighting of the iconic Empire State building. While in New York City, he designed many famous signs that appeared on Times Square and Broadway, including billboards for Supersuds with huge bubbles pouring out of the top and Dormin over the counter sleeping aids with the slogan "Get your ZZZs with Dormin."

He also designed lights on airships (Pegasus on the Mobil and Goodyear Blimps during a stint for the company in California). Following eight years in New York, he returned to Charleston, married Ramona Blocker and started a successful real estate development company. He joined the National Ass'n of Realtors in 1960, and built the first commercial spec homes on Kiawah and in Eastwood on James Island.

His hobbies including flying private aircraft, exotic automobiles, motorcycling, golf, inventing useful and helpful machines such as the contact lens inserter and cartridge audio tape system which he patented (the forerunner to the 8-Track Tape System), computers, music (he starred in several Off- Broadway musical productions, and scored a Hollywood screen test while out in California). He had a "long and wonderful life," he said, and a man of faith, he believed God was watching over him.

He was a member of John Wesley United Methodist Church since 1955 where he taught Sunday School and enjoyed singing in the Chancel Choir. He stayed active in church until his health prohibited him from attending. He had a generous and giving spirit no matter what his personal financial situation, one example being he gave a stranger $300.00 to get his wife out of the hospital.

Of all his many accomplishments in life, he was most proud on his family and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife, Ramona, of Charleston, SC; four sons: Stratton Horres (Debbie) of Dallas, TX, Douglas Horres (Kathy) of Charleston, SC; Derrick Horres (Pam) of Charleston, SC and Randall Horres (Joanna) of Charleston, SC; seven grandchildren: Rachel, Caroline, Stratton, Meagan, Allie, Hannah and Sarah Horres; two step-grandchildren: Stuart Hunt (Lisa) and Patty Stokes (Mike); three step great-grandchildren: Jonathan Hunt (Nikki), Emmy Stokes and Rachael Stokes; one step great-great granddaughter: Lillie.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to John Wesley United Methodist Church, 626 Savannah Hwy., Charleston, SC 29407.

Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL.