George Richard Van Horn

Lt. Col. George Richard ‘Dick’ Van Horn, USMC (ret.) was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the only child of George Parker Van Horn and Mildred Genevieve Sheehan. He spent his school years in Fort Wayne, graduating from South Side High School in 1952.

Dick attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Ball State Teachers' College in Muncie, and graduated from Indiana State Teacher’s College in Terre Haute in June 1957 with a BS in Education. Dick later graduated from Indiana State Teacher’s College with a Masters Degree in School Administration. Dick enlisted with the US Marine Corps in September, 1957 beginning a 24 year career with the Marines. He served 2 years in Vietnam as Company Commander, Company A, First Anti-Tank Battalion in Chu Lai, Danang Province. He later served another 2 year deployment in Okinawa as a Logistics Staff Officer. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel in 1973, and went on to serve as a Logistics Officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. He retired from the Marines in 1981, and then started a second career at Hughes Aircraft in Torrance, CA, retiring again in 1995.

DIck married Susan Linette Bragdon in 1956 in Terre Haute, Indiana. They were married for 55 years before her death in Oceanside, CA. She was a great Marine wife who moved 22 times during Dick’s service in the Corps. They had two children, Kimberly Sue and Scott Ryan. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Susan, his daughter Kim, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Dick reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Nancy Whitson, and they were married in August, 2012. He lived a full, fun and active life in Washington, gaining many new family members and friends in his years here. He is survived by Nancy, at their home in Lynnwood; his son Scott and daughter-in-law Arland Van Horn of Aliso Viejo, CA; his granddaughter Brittney Van Horn of Twentynine Palms, CA; granddaughter Sydney and Patrick O’Neil of Methuen, MA, his grandson O’Neil Van Horn and Jennifer Maidrand of Cincinnati, OH. He was a very proud great-grandfather to Maeve Rudy and Rory Elizabeth O’Neil. He is also survived by three nieces and their husbands and children. He leaves several cousins in Indiana, and his best friend from 6th grade, Bob Gotschall, and his wife Day of Peabody, MA. He is also

survived by his loving and faithful dog, Marie, who never left his side, and Nancy’s little dog, Puzzle.

Dick leaves behind members of Nancy’s family who also loved him dearly. They include her sister, Stephany Dunfee; her sons and their wives: Rick and Mara Whitson; Rob and Jackie Whitson; and Tim and Jennifer Grant; and Nancy’s grandchildren and their wives/husbands: Toby and Mary Benefield; Devon and James Heckathorn; Jacob Whitson and Jessica Huonder, Jana Gail Whitson and Teddy Spicer: and her great-grandchildren: Logan Benefield; Ava Grace, James, Addison and Emerson Heckathorn; and little Teddy Spicer, who is due in January.

The family wishes to thank the exceptional care Dick received from the doctors and caregivers at Evergreen Medical Center, Quail Park, and Evergreen Hospice. Arrangements are being made by Purdy and Walters at Floral Hills.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 7th, at 2:00 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 17321 44th Avenue West, Lynnwood, WA, 98036. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts be made to Imagine Children’s Museum, 1402 Wall Street, Everett, WA, 98201 or Evergreen Hospice, 12822 124th Lane NE, Kirkland, WA. 98034.