R. Ray Horn

R. Ray Horn, 85, a lifelong resident of New Philadelphia, died Monday, September 9, 2013 in Park Village Assisted Living at Dover.

A son of the late Elmer and Georgia (Boyd) Horn, Ray was born January 24, 1928 in his childhood home at New Philadelphia.

Ray graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1945. A year later he enlisted with the United States Army and served during the end of World War II.

On July 2, 1949, Ray married the former Cleala Schumacher and together the couple raised three children, Brenda, Jay and Dan. The couple shared 32 years of marriage prior to Cleala’s passing on February 10, 1982.

He started his working career at Goshen Dairy before becoming a longtime employee of the United States Postal Service at New Philadelphia. Following his retirement from the Post Office in 1987 he then worked for the Ag Statistics office.

Ray had a love for farming and agriculture and was a member of the Tuscarawas County Farm Bureau and the Cattleman’s Association and he served as a 4-H advisor for more than 30 years. He had a passion for Hereford Cattle and now his grandchildren carry that same passion.

He was a longtime member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Oldtown Valley where he was a member of the Church Council and also taught Sunday School. Ray was also an avid sports fan and he especially enjoyed following the Cleveland Indians and coaching basketball and softball in his younger years.

He is survived by his daughter, Brenda (Donald) Sibley of Strasburg; his son, Jay (Pamela) Horn of New Philadelphia and three grandchildren, Melissa, Eric and Dylan Sibley.

In addition to his parents and Cleala, Ray was preceded in death by a son, Dan Horn on March 15, 2012 and three brothers and one sister.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 12, 2013 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Ray’s life will be held on Friday, September 13, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home with Rev. Hugh Berry officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in East Avenue Cemetery at New Philadelphia. Following the committal service a reception will be held in the fellowship hall at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Park Village Assisted Living for their care and compassion for Ray during his time there.

Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and light a candle in remembrance of Ray by visiting the funeral home website.

Contributions may be made in Ray’s memory to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 3640 Oldtown Valley Road SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.