The family will welcome friends at a visitation Friday, November 30 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station. Services celebrating his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 1 at the funeral home.
Wendell was born July 28, 1934 in Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas the son of Carey Wendell and Alma (Keese) Horne. He grew up on a vegetable producing farm and attended Union school through the fifth grade. He then attended the Sulphur Springs Houston Elementary and High School, graduating from Sulphur Springs High School in 1952. Wendell attended the Union Baptist Church. He witnessed the transition from horse drawn farm equipment to tractors. The high school vocational program offered the opportunity to show dairy heifers, enter corn growing contests and finally earning the Lone Star Farmer degree and American Farmer degree. Through hard work he learned to never quit until the job was finished.
Wendell became a Christian at 10 years of age. He took his commitment seriously. A higher education was not so much as a dream until high school graduation. He enrolled at East Texas State College and prepared to become a Vocational Agricultural teacher, graduating with a B.S. in 1956 and a M. Ed. in 1960. There he fell in love with Betty Johnson. Wendell and Betty were married June 11, 1955. From 1956-1958, he taught Vocational Agriculture in Powderly High School. In 1958, he moved to Bonham where he taught two years.
In 1960, Wendell and Betty came to College Station where they built a home raised their two children, Harold and Pam. He was very proud of fathering and rearing their two children. He attended Texas A&M where he received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Plant Pathology. In 1963, he became an Extension Plant Pathologist. He became Project Leader of the Extension Plant Pathology Group in 1974 and served in that position until 1989. When the position was change to Associated Department Head and Extension Program leader for Plant Pathology and Microbiology. Wendell served in that position until his retirement March 31, 1992. He received the Extension superior Service Award in 1969 and Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award in 1970.
In 1984, he was recognized by Alpha Zeta Chapter pf Epsilon Sigma Phi for Meritorious Service. He was active in the American Phytopathological Society serving as a member of the advisory committee for the journal Plant Disease from 1980-1983. In 1983, he was named Editor-in-Chief for the journal. In 1989, he was made a Fellow of the American Phytopatholgical Society. Wendell did consulting, writing and playing 42 during his retirement. Some of his accomplishments for which he was most proud, was having the opportunity to teach Sunday school classes, share knowledge with and encourage others.
Wendell is preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Betty Horne.
Wendell is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Harold and Vicki Horne; daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Bill Brunson; grandchildren, Jacquelyn Evans and husband Jared, Justin Horne and wife Lauren, Calyste Hanks and husband Clayton, Kendal Corrington, Tana Corrington, Chase Corrington and Macy Brunson; great-grandchildren, Emerson, Elin and Ensley Evans, Hailey and Hannah Horne; and Beverly Bryant, devoted friend and companion of five years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial s may be made to Grace Bible Church, 700 Anderson, College Station, Texas 77840 on memo line: “Every Knee” in memory of Wendell Horne.
