John Chisolm HORN Sr., 85, of Alexandria, died Thursday, Dec. 7, 2000, at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital in Huntingdon. Born Jan. 16, 1915, in New York, he was a son of the late Dr. William M. and Marguerite Jacobs Horn. On June 22, 1938, he married Solveig Elizabeth Wald, who died Jan. 8, 1979. On Dec. 31, 1996, he married Carol Mills, who survives at home.
A 1932 graduate of Ithaca High School, he received a bachelor of arts degree in labor economics from Cornell University in 1936. In 1937, he completed graduate courses in administrative engineering. In 1965, he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Susquehanna University, where he served on the board of trustees from 1952-80 and was chairman of the board from 1962-79. From 1967-74, he served on the College of Civil Engineering and College of Engineering Industrial and Professional Council at Penn State. He worked to transfer the Yale University Bureau of Traffic Research to Penn State and establish the Traffic Safety Center at Penn State. He was school board director of the Juniata Valley and Alexandria School districts from 1950-62.
Beginning in 1937, he was employed by the John R. Wald Co. in Huntingdon. During World War II, he was in the personnel and public relations department at the company's munitions plant in Tyrone. In 1938, he was employed by Prismo Safety Corp. in Huntingdon, holding various positions during the next 31 years, including the posts of vice president and president and as a member of the board of directors. He also helped incorporate Wald Industries of Huntingdon in 1946 and served as president for 18 years and was on the board of directors for 23 years. He later founded John C. Horn Associates, a business consulting firm, and Church Management Service Inc., a consulting firm for pastors, ministers and church lay workers.
He served as promotional director of J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital for its expansion project in 1947. From 1952-66, he served on the executive boards of Huntingdon Chamber of Commerce and Huntingdon Business and Industry Inc. He was also director, secretary and president of United Way of Huntingdon County Inc. He was active with the Boy Scouts of America and receivednumerous awards for his service. Since 1938, he was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Huntingdon, serving as choir director from 1940-76. He served several terms on church council and as president of the council from 1964-68. He was also a delegate to the Central Pennsylvania Synod conventions and served on several committees.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, M. Phyllis Horn of Pittsboro, N.C., and Dorothy T. Horn of Huntingdon; three sons, John C. Jr. of Longmont, Colo., Eric L. of Henderson, Nev., and Thomas W. of Boalsburg; a stepdaughter, Marley Dolente of Devon; two stepsons, William E. Mills III of Greenwich, Conn., and David S. Mills of Morrisville; a sister, Marguerite Zarger of Erie; two brothers, the Rev. Henry Eyster of Cambridge, Mass., and Robert T. of Ithaca, N.Y.; nine grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and 10 step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three sons, Robert Gregg on Aug. 20, 1962, Stephen Lunde on Jan. 4, 1965, and James Melchior on Jan. 8, 1979; a sister; and three brothers. The funeral will be at noon Monday at the church, with the Rev. Peter J. Naschke officiating. Burial will be in Alexandria Presbyterian Cemetery.