David Horner

Dave Horner, 86, died Monday, April 30, 2018, in Madison at University Hospital, about a mile away from where he grew up in Shorewood Hills.

Living nearly his entire life in Madison, Dave was born April 15, 1932. His parents were Frank R. and Evelyn N. Horner. Dave graduated West High School and went on to attend UW-Madison, where he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering in 1954. Enlisting in the U.S. Air Force soon after that, he was stationed at RAF Station Weathersfield, in Essex, England, as an Armaments Officer from 1956 to 1958.

Dave spent a year at DuPont Chemical in Nashville, using his degree to work there on a relatively new substance, cellophane. He returned to Madison in late 1959 to join his father at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance, where he worked as an agent from 1959 until his retirement, gaining his CLU designation in 1965.

On April 15, 1961, he married the former Betty White Heindl of Richmond, Virginia, his wife of 20 years and the mother of his two sons. In 1982, he met his longtime partner and traveling companion Patricia McBeath, of Madison, who he shared his life with until her death in 2014.

An avid enthusiast of astronomy, climate science, science fiction, HAM and CB radio, coin collecting, photography, and travel, Dave passed all of these interests along to his sons, who enjoyed sharing those interests with him through the years.

Dave is survived by his two sons, Jeffrey Frank Horner of Atlanta and Frank David Horner of DeForest, Frank's wife Dana Horner, and their two daughters, Dave's granddaughters, Elizabeth Horner and Kathryn Horner.

The family would like to Thank the University Hospital ICU (TLC) staff, especially his nurse Lauren, for the compassion and care they provided.

Following a cremation, there will be a private interment with family in Madison.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434