Argus Observer (Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon)
Sunday, June 04, 2000
Clifford Lynn Horn, 79, Fruitland, died at the VA Medical Center in Boise on June 1, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church, Payette, under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Fruitland.
The Rev. Jon Anderson and the Rev. Emeritus Earl Traughber will officiate.
Clifford was born April 16, 1921 to LeRoy and Maude A. Horn in Loretta, Neb.
He moved with his parents to Fruitland in 1922, where he attended Links School of Business and went to work for the Bonneville Power Company, building the Grand Coulee Dam. Later, he attended the University of Washington in Seattle.
Clifford met and married Leona Ruth Nelson on July 11, 1948.
They raised two children, and have lived in Fruitland for the past 52 years.
He entered the Army Air Force in October 1942 and trained as a flight engineer and a top turret gunner on a B-17 bomber. During World War II, he served in the European Theater where he was a prisoner of war for two years in the German prison camp, Stalag 17-B.
He returned to Fruitland in June of 1945.
He worked for Boise Payette Lumber Company, Bay West Building and later for the City of Fruitland as town marshal and watermaster when Fruitland installed its new water and sewer systerm in 1955-56.
In 1957, he went to work for Van Patten Lumber Company in Ontario until 1971, when he was forced to retire due to neck and back injuries sustained in World War II. He was then employed by Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel.
He was a member of Payette First United Methodist Church, The Independent Order of Oddfellows, of which he was a Grand Master, The Grand Encampment of Idaho, Patriarch Militant, the American Legion, a lifetime member of the 94th Bomber Group, lifetime member of the Stalag 17-B Memorial Group, and a lifetime member of the Disabled Veterans of America. At the time of his death, he was president of the Friendship Manor Retirement Center in Caldwell. Family meant everything to Clifford. He was a very loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will surely be missed by all.
This spring, a young student interviewed Clifford on his opinion of war while he was in the hospital in Boise. The following was his reply: "I have a hard time thinking of a good answer. A war is something horrible that should never happen. I am very proud of my service to my country, and although I have suffered almost every day of my adult life from the results of my neck and back injuries from World War II, I would gladly do it again under the same circumstances. If by my service I have helped in some small way to keep my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren from seeing a repeat of history, it will have all been worth while. God bless my family and God bless America, may our flag forever wave in peace."
Clifford is survived by his wife, Leona of Fruitland; a son, Gilbert Horn and his wife, Joann of Payette; a daughter, Phyllis McKee and her husband, Lyle of Fruitland; two sisters, Veda Kuhlman of Fruitland, and Virginia O'Toole of Payette; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, two brothers and an infant son.
Memorials may be made to the Payette United Methodist church or I.O.O.F. Eye Related Program, care of shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, Idaho 83661.
Friends may call from 3:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Fruitland.
