Irene ‘Fern’ Witham Horner 87 passed away January 20, 2019 at Riverside Landing near McConnelsville, Ohio. She was an active member of the Deerfield Presbyterian Church. Fern was born June 18, 1931 in Wadena County, MN to Harris Palmer Witham Sr. and Irene Mae Eaton Witham.
Fern moved to Washington County, Ohio when she was four years old. They lived on a farm near Barlow. She graduated valedictorian of her class at Vincent High School in 1948.
She attended Marietta College for two years. Then she married the love of her life, Wayne Horner, on August 19, 1950 at the Barlow Methodist Church. At that time she moved to Deerfield Township, Morgan County and lived in the county the rest of her life.
They were the proud parents of two children: Philip Wayne born January 21, 1953 and Dorothy Jean born June 29, 1954. After her children were in school, Fern started teaching at Rose Farm in 1961 until it closed and then taught at Deavertown. She went back to college, nights, weekends and summers after she started teaching.
She graduated Cum Laude from Ohio University in 1965. Fern always enjoyed teaching and loved children of all ages. Besides her children and their spouses, she loved her grandchildren and great- grandchildren immensely.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Wayne on February 28, 1992; siblings: Lois (Lawrence) Lane, Harris Palmer Witham ‘Jr’, who was killed in WWII and Edward Witham; her father-in-law Albert ‘Ted’ Horner and great-grandson Clayton Joseph ‘Baby Joe’ Horner. Left to treasure the memory of this outstanding loving woman are her children: Philip (Kris) Horner of Malta OH and Dorothy (John) Masterson of Reynoldsburg OH; grandchildren: Adam Wayne (Anna) Horner of McCutchenville OH, Amanda Kay (Brion) Blankenship of Springfield OH, Colette Mae Masterson of Westerville OH and Melinda Sue (Jewett Jr) Racer of Malta OH; great-grandchildren: Trenton Wayne Horner, Addison Patricia Horner, Timothy Carter Horner, Brandon Wayne Blankenship, Ashley Marie Blankenship, Jewett Wayne Racer, Wylie Alan Racer, Owen William Racer and Walker Samuel Racer. Plans are for her body to be donated to The Ohio State University for teaching and research.
No calling hours are planned and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of your choice, or to the Deerfield Presbyterian Church, Lucille Westfall, 4533 State Route 37, Malta, OH 43758 or Interstitial Cystitis Association, 7918 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 300, McLean VA 22102. THE SNOUFFER FUNERAL HOME 1150 WEST MILITARY ROAD ZANESVILLE is honored to be assisting the family.
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