Thomas Johnson Horne

Mr. Thomas (TJ, Tom) Johnson Horne, PhD, age 102 died in Fort Myers, Florida on April 29, 2015.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, July 25, 2015 in the Burke Memorial Gardens with military honors. Rev. James Emery will officiate.
Born October 15, 1912 in Pound, Virginia to Thomas Clinton and Sally Culbertson Horne, he attended and graduated from Hurricane Elementary School, Wise High School, Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1930-34, BS), Ohio State University (1938-39, MS), and Pennsylvania State University (1947-49, PhD, 54).  He served as an officer in the US Army from 1941-1946, attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel before retiring from the reserves.  On August 15, 1939 he married Margaret Blair Baker.  He lived in Staunton, VA from 1934-41 where he taught Vocational Agriculture at local high schools.
During his Army service he was located in Australia and New Guinea.  He lived in Blacksburg, VA from 1949-1969 where he served as Professor of Agricultural Education and Associate Dean for Instruction, College of Agriculture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute.  He move to Atlanta, GA in 1969 to serve as Project Director, Higher Education in Agricultural Sciences, Southern Regional Education Board.
Following his retirement in 1975, he moved to Waynesboro, GA where he served or led numerous Methodist councils, committees, and missions through First United Methodist Church Waynesboro.  He spent two years in Russia on Methodist mission teams to Khabarovsk in 1992 and 1994.  He was also an active member of the Waynesboro Rotary Club and served as the club's president.  He moved to Ft. Myers, FL in 1995, where he became active in the Tice United Methodist Church.
Tom will be especially remembered for being a dutiful servant of his Lord Jesus, through his Sunday Bible teachings, establishment of a Christian school for children, holding many church leadership positions, service on and leading numerous lay missions, and by his daily prayerful actions serving as a Christian steward for others.  Survivors include his brother Nile Home, AL, daughters Sally Helms, Ft. Myers, FL, Elizabeth Wilson, Cape Coral, FL, Margaret Masencup, Amherst, VA, son Thomas Horne, Jr., Decatur, GA, daughter in law Janet West, Acworth, GA, grandchildren Debbie Westerman, Jay Grate, Jeff Grate, Michelle Grate-Nix, Bill Masencup, Kristi Masencup, Charlie Masencup, Katie Horne, Jennifer Ruth, Sarah Horne, and 14 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren.  Tom was preceded in death by his parents, wife Margaret, son William, sister Opal Wheatley, brothers, Tate, Thurman, Bruce and grandson Clinton Masencup and great grandson Cody Grate.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Waynesboro United Methodist Church.
Taylor Funeral Home, 842 N. Liberty Street, Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.

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