DONALD B. HORN, SR.
09/07/30 – 10/01/22 Donald B. Horn, Sr. 92, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at his home in Shreveport, LA. He was born September 7, 1930, in Montgomery, LA to Alma Kieffer Horn and Daniel Bennett Horn.
Visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at Osborn Funeral Home. Graveside services with military honors began at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 7th at Forest Park West Cemetery. Bro. Joe Waggener officiated.
Mr. Horn was a 1947 graduate of Montgomery Louisiana High School. After high school he moved to Shreveport and took a job at Childs Big Chain grocery on Fairfield Ave. In 1951, the U.S. Army sent him a love note drafting him into the service for the Korean Conflict. Mr. Horn was trained as a medic and attached to the 618th Medical Clearing Company behind the front lines giving care and aid to wounded soldiers, to then be transported to Army MASH units or Tokyo General for surgery. In Korea, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Korean Service Medal, three Bronze Star Service Medals and the United Nations Service Medal. After returning to the states, Mr. Horn resumed his employment at Big Chain which later was bought out by the Kroger Grocery Company. He worked his way up the chain for Kroger, ultimately to be named to his first store manager position at the old Jewella Ave. store. During his tenure and under his management, he was awarded multiple “top store” awards in the Kroger Dallas Division. In 1973, he caught the itch to own a business and with a partner bought out Gayley Fine Foods and incorporated it as H&H Foods. His niche was wholesale specialty and gourmet grocery lines for retail grocery and restaurant distribution. Also in 1973, Mr. Horn and his late wife Patsy Windham bought land in DeSoto Parish, LA establishing a family farm on which he began raising beef cattle and pleasure riding horses. Through the years the weekend farm life and demands made it so that selling the food distribution business became imperative to be able to manage the land, cows and horses, and in 1984 the Horns moved to the country. There they set up life as farm folks and joined the First Baptist Church of Mansfield, LA. Through the years of becoming Pawpaw and watching grand kids grow, he lost Patsy Windham Horn in 1995 to cancer. He re-married to Patsy Stout of Mansfield in 1996. Patsy Stout Horn predeceased Mr. Horn in 2019, and he remained at the farm homestead until April of 2020 when he fell and broke a hip requiring surgery, re-hab and long-term watch care. Brian, and his late wife Laura, moved Pawpaw to Shreveport to the house next door and gave loving care and tending to him throughout. Being that he possessed a steely resolve, he didn’t require a lot of tending as he managed preparing his meals and doing his laundry until literally the day he slipped away from this earth. Being independent as long as possible is every person’s need and wish, and realizing this to be true, he was afforded this lifestyle by his loving family. Being raised in a near poverty-laden young home life because of the Great Depression, Pawpaw lived his adult years ever so meek, reserved and undemanding on anyone, which complimented his giving nature so that he always gave more in love and blessings to his family than he had needs from them. He enjoyed reading and studying Bible scripture and in his late years enjoyed discussing with Brian the walk of Hebrew roots and understanding the full extent of biblical Law and discipleship as commanded by our Messiah. Being a man of stringently high principles, Mr. Horn frequently strove throughout his life to contribute to efforts that helped orphans, the homeless, the hungered, and shut-in sick in the community. Countless numbers of those who knew Donald Horn were fortunate to have been in his circle at some point, and the family is very appreciative of everyone who has expressed their thoughts and fond memories of knowing him. The lessons of love, giving, patience, being fearless and quiet resolve were passed on as blessings to his family, friends and acquaintances throughout his entire life.
Mr. Horn was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years and mother to Brian, Patsy Windham; his second wife, Patsy S. Horn; his parents; two brothers, Huey P. Horn, and Franklin J. Horn; sister, Dorothy H. Payne; daughter-in-law, Laura Coleman Horn; and his granddaughter’s husband, Ryan Burns. He is survived by his son, Brian Horn; granddaughters, Regan Bashara and husband Justin, and Julia Anne Burns; grandson, John Coleman Horn and wife Haley; and great-grandchildren, Emmagayle Rose Burns and Charlotte Mae Horn.
Honorary pallbearers were the Adult 3 Men’s Friendship Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church of Mansfield.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Robert Hernandez, Dr. William Haynie, and Nickie Slosson for her devoted love and care regularly assisting Pawpaw at home.
