Carl Philip Horton, 81, of Lovettsville, Virginia, passed peacefully on April 11 with his loving wife, Tracie, at his bedside.

Carl was born on August 19, 1943, at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Kittery, Maine.

He spent his first 13 years living in Watertown, Massachusetts, and then moved to Newington, Connecticut.

Carl graduated from Newington High School, after which he earned a bachelor's degree from Central Connecticut State University, with a major in US history. He then worked for General Motors in Manhattan before moving to Virginia where he worked for several years in government. Having always wanted to attend law school, he returned to New England to study law and graduated from Suffolk University Law School in Boston with a Juris Doctor degree.

Carl established his law practice in Vienna, Virginia where he stayed for the remainder of his 50-year career, earning a reputation as a leading family law attorney in Virginia. Carl was well-known in his community as a well-loved, charismatic person. He loved to engage people and was a great listener and talker. He dedicated his retirement years to Guardian Ad Litem work, working as a guardian for children.

Carl is survived by his wife, Tracie Horton, his daughter, Jenny Shervington (and husband, Scott), a brother, Rick Ohanesian (and wife, Sally) of Prescott, Arizona, a sister, Roxanne Rideout (and husband, Chris) of Newington Connecticut, step children, Chris, Ben, and his adopted daughter Alex, along with numerous other family members including grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a close found-family. He was predeceased by his father, Vernon Horton of Virginia, and mother, Louise Ohanesian of Connecticut.

Carl was a larger than life figure in the hearts and lives of his family and many friends, and he will be both dearly remembered and deeply missed.

An announcement will be made with memorial service details, in the near future.