Harold Guy Horner, aka Spud, aka Red, retired WWII Army veteran, was stationed in Korea and served in the Vietnam war, died peacefully at his home in Citrus Heights home, April 15th 2013…and no: this doesn’t mean he got out of paying taxes.
Born in McMechen West Virgina to Guy & Lorena Horner on July 4th 1927, he was a red-headed fire-cracker baby…which predicates there was also other fire works 9 months earlier. Harold was a 9th grade drop out that made good in life primarily because he was clever and also lucky enough to marry a good women: Helen Louise Altman (and yes: the story goes he stole her away from another man and broke the other guys heart…carpe diem Harold!)
Harold married his wife, Helen Altman in 1952, and they managed to put up with each other for over 52 years raising two somewhat troublesome sons, Forrest and Phil, that were probably a proximate cause of Helen’s later dementia…as who wouldn’t loose there mind raising those two.
Harold spent his Army career in radio communications (famous to ham radio operators, the KWM-2A) and was stationed all over the world decorating his house in an eclectic “Early Service Man” décor of Cuckoo Clocks (Germany), Monkey Pod Spoons (Vietnam), Camel hassocks (Egypt), Ethiopian battle axes (Eritria), Gazelle heads (shot in Africa) and Panamanian teak tea tables. Despite little formal education Harold was a smart guy, and largely self taught building his own Heath Kit TV’s and radios, rebuilding cars, doing upholstery, wood working and he made a mean Hamburger with Lipton Onion soup mix, which was added to pretty much everything we ate for a while there.
After his 20 year Army career, Harold used his Teletypewriters repair skills at Sacramento State University and transitioned to the microprocessor computer era actually building IMSAI 8080 computers from scratch on his bedroom floor, and then to the early PC’s. Harold was a nerd long before the word nerd became cool.
Harold enjoyed fishing and travel and the normal blah, blah, blah. Harold is preceded in death by the rest of humanity that has already passed (duh)…of his family (sisters, Sue, Wilma & Lydabelle & brother, Donald) and friends from his era, he was practically the last man standing. Harold is survived by his sons, Forrest (Susan Horner) of Orangevale CA and Phil (Diana Smith) of Susanville CA, one Grandson Greg (Melinda Horner) of Reno NV and their two vivacious red-headed great grand daughters now 4 years old, Addison & Madalynn that were the apple of Harold’s eye and brought great delight to his later years.
A full military honor memorial to his life will be held, Saturday April 27th, at 10AM, at Reichert’s Funeral Chapel 7320 Auburn Blvd, Citrus Heights CA 95610.
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