Dana, Scott, Tammy

I remember your Dad so well. He was a real good man. Tough as nails but always made me feel welcome. 

 

He was my Tac Officer in 1972 at Rio Hondo police academy.  He was straight, fair and I could tell he was a good guy.   My condolences to the family.   I really respected your Husband/ father.  

Sincerely,

Mario Uribe
DA’s office 
1972- 2013

Grampa,

       I miss you more than words could ever say.  Think about you and Grandma often. I love you so much!




Love your Missy

Grampa,

Over the years since your passing I thought the pain of losing my hero would eventually pass, Ive come to find this is not true.  There has been a void in my life since the day you left it that I cannnot fill.  I can look back fondly to the many times in the past you brought a smile to my face, and sadly look to a future that you will not get to share with me.  I am eternally grateful that you were able to hold both of my sons and give them one of your famous bear hugs atleast once in their lives.  Semper fi, I love and miss you.

Dad,

I miss you very much!! I wish I knew more about you and regret never asking you, about you.  You were a great loving Dad and I know I will see you again. Kisses and hugs.


Your loving daughter,

Tammy

I wished I'd known earlier I remember living next door to him and Jo Anne when I was 4 years old that wonderful guy made an impression that has lasted thru my life.Godspeed Bill.

He was one tough Marine and an uncle I was proud to know.  When I was a small boy I once accidently stepped on his spit shined shoes and I was told in no uncertain terms that was to never happen again.  We will miss him.

I was happy to see when I was back in La Puente Ca. for a short visit... You looked to good and strong. Keep watching over your family... god Bless

Hi Bill,
It was great knowing you! We worked together many years at Rio Hondo and I was sorry to hear that you had died. You were a good man, always honest and generous. You had a good sense of humor too. You were a truly "Hard Marine" all the way but in the best sense. True to your values and damn the torpedoes:) You always spoke fondly of your wife Jo Ann and your daughter Dayna. We even had a contest once, lifting an anvil with one arm:) I remember that! Rest in peace my friend and I hope we meet again! One of the "Chosin Few"!
Semper Fi

Thank You Mr. Bill For Helping Me Fix My Truck. God Bless You. Always In My Prayers.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Mr. Hornsby was one of my instructors at Rio Hondo Police Academy. I learned alot from his instruction and guidance.

We are laying our Dad to rest on March 26th time 10:00am at Riverside National Cemetery 
22495 Van Buren Blvd  Riverside, CA 92518
Phone: (951) 653-8417

I went through the academy in 1992. Rangemaster Hornsby had a way of raising your confidence on the range and as a police officer.  His natural way of being...low key, very weapons knowledgable, safe and carried himself in a way that everyone respected him immediately.  As a female officer, he helped me so much, I was "top gun" of my class for three months...He was a born teacher!  
I am lucky and greatful he touched my life! I am a better officer because of him :)

To Bill's wife and family,I extend my deepest sympathy and prayers to all of you! I have know and worked with Bill at the academy since 1976. Bill was always willing to help me and was a great example of commitment in making the program the best it could be.
Thanks for your friendship, I will miss you!

Grandpa, thank you so much for taking my mom in so that I had the pleasure to be a part of yours and your sweet families life. Thank you for teaching me how to cross an intersection "you can cross when you don't see anymore rooftops" which would take a lifetime to cross 199 if I did do that. 
I didn't get to spend much time with you but the time that I did have I will cherish forever. I love and miss you!

Christina. Im so sorry for your loss. I never got the opportunity to meet your granddad. But i am so blessed to be your friend. I love you sis and part of him lives on in you.

It was a real honor to know and work with Bill. He was a patient giving man and Marine.

Semper Fi

My uncle bill was one of my best friends. I can not tell you how much I will miss him. All of the memories I have had with him, I will cherish them from now until the day I die. And when I do, we will meet again in the Kingdom of Heaven. I love you uncle bill I really do miss you 
                                                                                  Paige??

I had the real pleasure of knowing Bill, and working with him during his short stay at Baldwin Park PD, before he left for his position at Rio Hondo.  We bonded quickly, both having been in the military, and both having done tours in Vietnam.  A finer gentleman there never has been, with special qualities, starting with his desire to be of service to others.  My condolences to the entire Hornsby Family.

It has always a special event to spend time with you uncle bill you always had a way of seeing things you always had a smile and a well thought insight about life and what it has to offer and when Paige was born I saw a side of you that was different best friends my daughter still thinks of you as her best friend and great uncle as I think of my uncle bill there's only one and you were more than that you were a good man

I never got to know you, but I know my mom (Marla Hornsby) loved and respected you.  You will truly be missed by many.  May you rest in peace and may the Good Lord bring peace and comfort to your loved ones while they go through the difficult time of adjusting to your absence.

I am deeply saddened by Bill's passing.  He was a good friend and a great TAC officer and instructor.

Mr. Hornsby will be greatly missed. What a wealth of knowledge and unsurpassed understanding of the profession of arms.  This man is the absolute epitome of a hard-charger.  Semper-Fi, First Sergeant!

WCPD misses you already

It truly was a privelage to be trained by Mr Hornsby as a police officer. Not only did he train me but I had the honor many years later to work with him. In that time I grew to appreciate his dedication, knowledge and honor. He truly is one of a kind and will be missed.

It was a great pleasure and honor to know Bill, and to be part of his family. He was a special man. He will be missed.

My apologies to the Hornsby family for omitting my name from my post(s)!  I guess I overlooked that part!?  I submitted two posts, as I thought the first one didn't go through.....Geez!!  Bill would have said, "What a knucklehead!.." LOL

It was a pleasure and an honor knowing Bill and working with him at the police academy.  He always made time to chat with co-workers and made going to work fun.  He touched so many lives of young police officer recruits and taught them valuable life saving skills.  Your work on earth is done, Bill........enjoy paradise!

JoAnn, Dayna, & Family

My thoughts & prayers are with you in your time of grief.  Your memories of him will keep you strong.

"Thank you" so much for sharing Bill with us.  I know that the time he spent with us at the academy meant time away from his family.  Your sacrifice was our gain and I will be forever grateful to you.  Again, thank you.

Bill was an amazing man.  He was a man of great values & morals, extreme dedication, and a man with unbelievable knowledge.  He was always there when needed and always ready to offer a shoulder to lean on.  He was a true Marine, a gentleman, and our hero to the end.  I will truly miss him.

I am so glad to have known Bill and I will always have such fond and loving memories of him.  Knowing Bill, I just know that he is now our "special angel" watching over us from above.

Myrna Reyes  (Whittier, CA)

Bill's family, you are in my thoughts and prayers.  I first met Bill in 1973 when I was an academy recruit at Rio Hondo Police Academy.  I have so many fond memories of the times we worked together at the academy. RIP Bill.

Bill was one of the finest people that I had the pleasure to know.
He will be missed.
Dave Balch

My prayers go out to you and your family Dayna. You dad is truly an AMAZING person, he will be forever in my heart. My prayer go out to y'all. Bill, you are a true hero!

God bless you dad you were an amazing father,husband,grandfather and friend I am proud to have had a father like you in my life you are our hero,semper fi dad RIP.

Our deepest sympathy Dayna, please let us know if there is anything we can do at this time of loss. Remember, family is here for you, even across the miles! Give your mom a hug for us. Laura & Zelda Pemberton and family

To those who suffer the most from the loss that we all have sustained, I have but little to offer. Bill lives on in the lives, careers and memories of the many he inspired. I am blessed that our paths crossed. R.I.P.
P.S. "Marines don't die, they just go to Heaven and re-group"                      Semper Fi...

Our thoughts and prayers going out to the family...sorry for your loss...

I will miss you Mr. Bill...you reminded me so much of my dad! So helpful and willing to fix whatever I asked you for. Thank you for your service to your country, to your family and friends!

Bill was an inspiration to all and an exemplary leader to law enforcement and the Marine Corp. Bill, you played a large role in my professional successes and I will always be greatful to you for that, RIP my friend!

Grampa I love u and miss u dearly. Great man number one n my life. I say farewell but not goodbye because goodbye s forever and I kno one day I will see u again. My daughters wanted to meet u so bad but since they didn't get the honor of meeting u they send their love n pictures and a song they sing for u everyday. Love u grampa the most of the most outside n the sky as my 3yr old puts it. Xoxoxoxo

Sandy and Bobbie Jo, 
We mourn your loss as if it was our own because you. Be proud of this man was in your lives for so long and served so many throughout his life.

I am saddened to hear of Bill's passing.  I always enjoyed chatting with him at the academy, looking forward to his succinct & timely quips!  Know that Bill was loved and respected by countless members of the Law Enforcement community.

God's Speed, William................

RIP Bill. You were an inspiration to all who knew you and served your country and community well. My thoughts are prayers are with your family and friends during this difficult time.

I am saddened at Bill's passing & hope you can take comfort in knowing that he was loved & respected by countless members of the Law Enforcement community.  I always enjoyed our chats at the academy, and looked forward to his succinct & profound quips!!  God's Speed, Bill.....

My condolences to Bill's family.  I was saddened to hear of his passing.  I had the pleasure of working with Bill for many years as well at Rio Hondo.  Although he's left this world, I know he's protecting us from above as a dedicated Marine would do.

I'm so sorry for your loss.  I had the honor of knowing and working with Bill at the academy.  He influenced more people than you can possibly imagine and I will miss him.

My deepest sympathy to Bill's family. I had the pleasure of working with Bill for many years. 
I know Bill has been assigned duty at the pearly gates because there isn't a Marine that can stand more proud than Bill. I wish to thank the family for sharing Bill with us because I know he gave up a lot of family time for Country, Corps and his Law Enforcement Family.

OBITUARY

1st Sgt. William R. Hornsby Jr.

20 February, 1930 – 15 March, 2013

Oakdale Mortuary & Memorial Park

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services