My one thought today upon my father's passing was how the spoken word is so very powerful. It can tear down or build up, it has an ability to last a lifetime.
It was important to Dad and he was quite a wordsmith. My favorite memory is one of my first little league baseball games. I was 7 years old and playing in a division of 7-10 year olds. Not many of the 1st year kids played much, I was thrown in right field and batted ninth. I was very nervous at the plate. The pitcher looked so big and scary. He threw the ball very hard, much harder than in practice. After that game, walking to the parking lot, I looked up at my Dad and asked, "Did I do alright Dad?" He just tostled my red hair and said, "Son, you're a natural born hitter." From that day on, I was, because Dad said so. My knees never shook at the plate after that day, those pitchers never looked intimidating to me any longer... I was a natural born hitter... and by the end of that 1st year I was moved up to 5th in the batting order, pounding the ball every game. The next year I took my usual spot at 3rd in the order and on the field... because I also became a natural born fielder as well. All because my Dad spoke life over me at just the right time and in just the right way, creating just what he spoke.
In memory of my Dad, will you speak some life changing words over somebody today? Tell someone how special they are, it's not that hard.
Roy A. Horning, II
Brick Manufacturing Executive,
World War II Veteran
Roy A. Horning II, of Lancaster, in his 90th year, died and went home on Sunday, November 30th, 2008 after a lengthy illness. Born October 28th, 1919 to Clarence B. and Francis Johnson Horning in Paris Ill., his family moved here to Lancaster in the early 1920’s. Roy was predeceased by his wife Dorothy Renninger Horning of 65 years and by his younger brother Bobby.
Roy attended school here and graduated from Lancaster Boy’s High in mid 1937. In High School he played football and was a member of the band, in which he played clarinet. He went on to F&M College and graduated in 1941. He performed in the Marching Band while at F&M. After a short time of working in the insurance business he enlisted in the Army Air Corps to serve his country during WWII.
He was sent to Officer’s Training School and was certified in 2 and 4 engine planes as a 2nd Lieutenant . He was then assigned to train young pilots in Texas. After a time, he volunteered to go overseas to fly C-47 transports and tow gliders. He was stationed in Poix, France with the 62nd Troop Carrier Squadron nicknamed “The Yacht Club”. His unit received several citations, and Roy personally was involved in a couple major operations during the war. After the war and before his return home, he was assigned as a personal pilot for an alternate judge at the Nuremburg war trials. Upon returning home, Roy was a member of the reserves, retiring as a Captain.
After the war he was in the insurance business as a claims adjuster and then took over his father’s position at Lancaster Brick Company shortly after his death. He held the positions of Executive Vice President and General Manager and was a member of the board for many years. After the closing of Lancaster Brick, he went on to selling mortar supplies for a short time until retirement. He taught as a substitute teacher during his retirement years.
Roy’s interests were many, among them was the game of golf and he carded several holes-in-one during his play, including the 1st on his 50th birthday. He was a member for many years at Conestoga Country Club. He was also an avid writer and had a few things published such as “The History of Brickmaking in Lancaster County” for the Lancaster Historical Society and the “History of the Rotary Club of Lancaster”. He wrote many pieces of fiction. A play entitled “Wear the White Hat” was copyrighted and performed including several songs he had also written, by the Lancaster Rotary Club in 1963 as a successful fundraising event.
He was a member of the Civil War Roundtable of Harrisburg and long time member of the Lancaster Rotary Club where he served as President and more recently as it’s Club Historian. He was a member of Church of Christ now known as Abbeyville Road Christian Church on Abbeyville Road, Lancaster.
Roy is remembered by his 3 children, Carol of La Mesa, CA, wife of Eric Buckenmeyer, Richard of Lancaster, husband of Sandy Horning and Robert of Mount Joy, husband of Bonnie Horning. He will also be missed by his two granddaughters, Gretchen and Jessica Horning.
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