Harold Horn
Harold Horn, age 89, of Salem, Virginia passed away Thursday, February 10, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Baldwin Horn; his brother, Willard Horn; his two sons, Bryan William Horn and Neil Anderson Horn; his two grandchildren, Olivia and Marco Horn; as well as, sisters and brothers in law, and numerous nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
Harold was preceded in death by his father, Miles Horn; his mother, Lena Horn; his brothers, Kermit and Richard Horn; and his sisters, Alma Lester and Ruth Horn.
Harold grew up in the West Virginia Mountains just outside Grundy, Virginia. His life was hard. The family was poor. He and his brothers and sister had to pitch in to help their father and mother make ends meet. Work included any job where Harold could earn a wage. As a boy he would plow fields with a mule in the evenings and also at night. He would help his father who was a carpenter, he would carry water up and down the mountain ridges to timber workers, and even ran mule teams in and out of coal mines. Fortunately, Harold was able to go to school when time and work allowed. He attended Grundy High School in Grundy, Virginia. There he excelled in his studies and became quite an athlete, playing both football and basketball. It was there he met the love of his life, Shirley Baldwin.
Not long after his high school graduation, Harold was inducted into the United State Army. Before going to basic training at Fort Lee, Virginia, Harold and Shirley were married. He was 19 and she 16. At his death, Harold and Shirley were husband and wife for 69 years.
Harold served his country in the Army overseas in the Korean War. He arrived in the country just as the conflict ended and served active duty in the Quartermaster Corp. Upon his return to the States, he went into reserve duty and was Honorably Discharged thereafter. Harold attended and graduated from the National Business College and then East Tennessee State University.
Though he worked a number of jobs after returning home, Harold was at heart a fiercely independent soul. So, in 1977, he started a small auto salvage and repair business in west Roanoke County named Dixie Caverns Auto Parts. He and Shirley ran and maintained the business for over 30 years.
Harold was a man among men. A hard, and sometimes tragic, youth, made Harold strong and able to endure hardship that would wither weaker men. A testament to that strength were his hands; his “big mits” as his nephew John Cominsky describes them. Or, at 76 years of age, riding a horse deep into the Wyoming wilderness to hunt elk (and having great success at it!). His father’s carpentry skills meant Harold could build almost anything. Harold worked, sometimes doggedly, and sacrificed for his wife and sons. He and Shirley raised their boys into men and on to their own successful professional careers. Men like Harold are the backbone of a community and a country.
Harold loved his family. He loved his work. He loved his dogs and cats and the deer that frequented the fields and woods around the home. He loved the mountains and spent hours and hours in the forest on cold fall mornings. He loved to hunt and fish. He was kind. He was handsome. He would help other people when they needed it and take nothing in return. He was gifted with common sense and the uncanny ability to repair most anything. He lived a long and interesting life. He will be missed. Harold is at peace now and we should be happy to have known him. Don’t be sad, dad would not have wanted that.
Visitation will be held at Lotz Funeral Home in Salem, Virginia, 1330 East Main Street, adjacent to Sherwood Memorial Park, from Noon til 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2022. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. the same day, once the visitation period is concluded.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Harold’s name to the following: Bethel Baptist Church, 1601 S Colorado Street, Salem, Virginia 24153, or The Roanoke Valley SPCA at 1340 Baldwin Ave. NE, Roanoke, VA 24012.
