He was born June 15, 1927, in Barnesville, Ohio, the son of the late George Herman Wayne and Francis Marie (Carpenter) Van Horn. James was a lifelong farmer and veteran of the U.S. Army earning the rank of sergeant. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking. He was employed by North Electric in Galion until 1972, then was employed by Wenco, a division of Jeld-Wen, until retiring in 1992.
James is survived by his loving wife, Norma (Redman) Van Horn, whom he married on Jan. 11, 1949; a son, James R. “Dick” (Joyce Wilder) Van Horn of Howard; two daughters, Mary Jane (Gerald) Bevington and Bonnie (Tom) Lahmon, both of Mount Vernon; brothers, John R. Van Horn of Bellville and Kenneth L. Van Horn of Johnsville; sisters, Elizabeth Jane Plogher of Chesterville and Patricia Ann Carpenter of Fredericktown; grandchildren, Jamie Lynn Stutz, Joseph Paul Lahmon and Jeanna Marie Lahmon, all of Mount Vernon; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by a son, Robert L. Van Horn; and two brothers, Earl Gene Van Horn and Thomas W. Van Horn.
The family will receive friends on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Snyder Funeral Home, 33 E. College St., Fredericktown. A graveside service with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at Forest Cemetery in Fredericktown.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of James may be made to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050.
The Snyder Funeral Home of Fredericktown is honored to serve the family of James Van Horn.