David James Horn

David James Horn, 78

David went to be with his Lord on Friday August 4, 2017. David was born January 22, 1939 to the Late Claude J. and Mary Etta (Phillips) Horn, in Indianapolis IN. He passed at home, with many of his immediate family by his side, including his Wife of 55 Years, Nancy A. (Crousore) Horn. He has a Legacy of Three Sons, Scott M. Horn (48), Kelly J. Horn (45), and James D. Horn (42). He had Two Brothers and One Sister growing up. He was Preceded in death by his older brother, Ronald C. Horn, PhD. – (Karen). He was able to share some memories with his two younger siblings before passing, Thomas M. Horn – (Terrie), and Claudia E. (Horn) Hall – (Nick). He has Two Wonderful Grandchildren, Matthew R, Horn (24) – Scott’s son, and Whittney E. Horn (23) – Kelly’s daughter. David was known as “PAPA” to the grandchildren, and played an important part of their young lives. Many a day & night did Nana & Papa spend watching the kids when their kids got “in a pinch”. Dad may have been grumpy about it at first, but he was Awesome with Kids. The BEST Papa ever!
Dad was actively involved in Athletics growing up, and he talked about the TABERNACLE Athletic (418 E. 34th St., Indianapolis IN, 46205) program All the time, and what an impact that it had on his life. Dad went through Indianapolis schools and graduated from SHORTRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL, Class of 1957. He is very active with the Class of 1957. He played and Lettered in multiple Sports while at Shortridge, including anchoring the line as the Center for the Football Team. He was All-City for the Baseball team as the Catcher. He was very active in the High School social scene.
David earned an Athletic and Scholastic Scholarship to Wabash College, in Crawfordsville, IN. He played Football for the “Little Giants” and became a Member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
David transferred to Butler University his Junior Year, where he continued on as a Sigma Chi. Dad also worked to help pay his way through college, washing dishes, working nights at the Jordan Y.M.C.A., working at Wheaton Van Lines, etc. . .In 1961, he met my mother, Nancy A. (Crousore) Horn, while working at Wheaton.
He graduated Butler with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and in History. He married Nancy A. (Crousore) Horn in January 27, 1962. Dad also liked to “sing a little Harmony” and became involved in Barbershop Quartet and the Local Chapter of SPEBSQA . He listened to Barbershop harmonies throughout the rest of his life. Music was very important to him, and he imparted that to his children. He worked at Spaulding Fiber as an Office Manager for a couple of years, he took a half-cut in pay when he was hired by the Sheboygan Y.M.C.A. Dad attended the George Williams College in Lake Geneva, WI and became a Certified Y.M.C.A. Instructor. At Sheboygan Y.M.C.A. , he was to become the Athletic Director, so the newlyweds moved to Sheboygan in the early ‘60’s. David became involved heavily in the Youth programs in Sheboygan, Starting the Day Camp they had there. In 1968, on the day Richard Nixon was elected president, their first son Scott was born. In 1971, wanting to move back to Indianapolis to be closer to the rest of the family, he was offered a position at the Jordan Y.M.C.A. as Athletic Director, working for his old boss. David’s second son, Kelly was born upon moving into their new home on the Southside of Carmel, where their home still remains 46 years later. David was concerned that he raise a family in a Good School system. David was the catalyst in getting the Y.M.C.A. Youth Athletic program in the local school system, Washington Township. He was also the catalyst in reviving the Y.M.C.A’s INDIAN GUIDE program, a youth program, similar to Cub Scout / Boy Scouts. He eventually got his own children involved in the program. In 1974, his third son, James D, was born. David continued to be heavily involved in the Y.M.C.A. throughout the 1970’s. He then became involved in the Carmel Dad’s Club Football program, serving as an Assistant Coach for all three of his sons’ Football Teams. He was also involved in the First Baptist Baseball and Basketball programs, helping out wherever he could – offering coaching tips. He often times knew much more than the coach, but would offer “constructive criticism” only if asked. He helped me more than he knew, as I played the positions that he played (Center in Football, Catcher in Baseball).
In the early 1980’s he left the Y.M.C.A. to explore other opportunities that were more financially lucrative. He went to work with Kenney Machinery selling Lawn and Garden Equipment. One memory I have, I was the envy of all my friends in the neighborhood because Dad had all the New Lawn Equipment during the Summer that he would haul on a trailer to all the dealers in the State in which he made the Sales calls. I would get to use it to mow grass with to make money in the neighborhood. Same with the Snowblowers in the winter, to take care of the Driveways and Sidewalks.
Dad was also heavily involved in my younger brothers’ BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross) activities, and that involved traveling throughout Indiana (and sometimes out-of-state) going to Competitions, because both Kelly and James were ranked in the Top Three in the State for their Age Group.
Dad was very Gregarious, Socially engaging and a Good Listener. . .this led him to his next career change, selling Life Insurance. My uncle Ron was a professor and department chair of Insurance at Baylor University (and had taught at several other fine institutions, and he had a friend that owned an agency (Jack), so I think he wanted to give it a shot. He took a job at John Hancock, and was the Staff Manager for the Indianapolis Office. He was very good at what he did. He is very Meticulous with details and has a big heart, combined with the Gregariousness, Socially engaging personality and good listening skills – all the traits needed to mbake a good insurance salesman.
Dad was also very supportive of our Music, buying Scott a Guitar when he was 8 years old, and Kelly a Drum set when he 6 years old. Both boys went on to play in a Rock Band that played in Bars, Fraternity Parties. While he didn’t necessarily like the choice of music, he was the reason that we were able to play, and he was our encouragement. He would on occasion try to play my guitar, and try to play the piano along with us.
He later took a job with Conseco Services in the mid-1990’s and worked there more than 10 years. I reintroduced the game of Golf to him, and I played golf with my Dad almost Every weekend, yearlong (regardless of the weather – rain, snow or shine). and he became involved in the Conseco Golf League, which played once a week in two different seasons. He played despite Rotator Cuff issues which bothered him for years up until several years ago, when it made it impossible for him to swing a club anymore.
In 2007, Dad “retired” and took a job “to keep him busy” at Creekside Middle School, as the Detention Supervisor and Substitute Teacher. He worked there up until a few years ago. He always enjoyed working with kids, and Discipline. The three Children called him the “GENERAL”, even though he was an Sergeant in the Army. He was also not the Handiest person when it came to fixing things around the house, or the family car – however, if he had a Roll of Duct Tape, Anything could be Repaired. He was also a Fashionista, or Fashion Icon. He liked to wear Rubber Galoshes, the “Taps”on his Tennis Shoes, year round. Dad will be missed. He was a man of Integrity, who was a Responsible Father. He taught me how to be a Good Man and how to be a Good Father.
There will be MORE INFO & UPDATES posted on epassing.org, under “David J. Horn”