Orville Leslie Horst
COLORADO SPINGS, Colo. -
Orville Leslie Horst, 89, passed away Monday (January 14, 2008).
He was born to Elizabeth
(Winey) Horst and Titus F. Horst on Sept. 27, 1918, in Newton. He was the
fourth of seven children. He grew up on a farm and attended country schools
until ninth grade, when he began high school in Newton. Orville was tall,
strong and healthy with an avid interest in all sports, especially basketball.
He soon found himself on the basketball team, which started a lifelong love of
the sport. By the time he graduated in 1937, he was well known for his
impressive ability as a Newton High School 'Railroader.' He continued his
remarkable basketball career at Bethel College in North Newton, before
graduating in 1941.
Following graduation, he
worked at Beech Aircraft in Wichita as an aeronautical engineer. There, he met
Maxine Marie Endicott of Pittsburg and promptly fell in love. They were married
in 1942 and established their home together. Soon, though, life would change
for the couple and the country as World War II escalated. Orville was proud to
serve his country as a naval officer, stationed in Hawaii.
At the end of the war, he
returned home to Maxine, and their new daughter, Karen Sue. He began a career
in education that would span the next 43 years. During this time, he received
his master's degree from Columbia University and entered the doctoral program
at the University of Southern California. He served as teacher, coach,
principal and superintendent of schools throughout Kansas. In 1955, Orville
followed the call to "Go west young man," and moved his family, which
now included their second daughter, Judith Lynn, to Southern California. Once
there, he continued his career as a school administrator.
In a brief attempt at
retirement, Orville and Maxine moved to the beautiful central coast of
California in 1982. Once there, however, Orville was invited to accept the role
of administrator of Paso Robles Christian School and later, North County
Christian School in Atascadero. Throughout his life, Orville was the recipient
of many honors. To name a few, he was awarded Principal of the Year
(1965-1966); county runner-up in popularity contest; Hudson School District
Outstanding Service Award (1970). He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, member of
the evaluation committee-North Central Association of Schools and Colleges,
Kansas State Governors' committee on curriculum, a member of evaluation
committee for North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. He was elected
to the School Board of Atascadero Unified School District in the late 1980's.
His service organizations include: National Educators Fellowship, Blue Ribbon
Civic Organization, Rotary Club (President) and Lions Club (President).
As a young child, Orville
accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior. From that time on, he sought to
serve his God and his church faithfully. He was a committed member of the
Church of the Nazarene, where he taught adult sunday school classes, sang tenor
in many quartets and choirs, served as Sunday School superintendent,
administered two Christian Schools, and sat on many church boards. He deeply
desired to please his Heavenly Father.
Orville loved to express his
abundant creativity in gardening and landscape design. He had a weakness for
roses, as well as the deer who stole into his yard to eat them. He also loved
to paint pictures on canvas. Besides painting landscapes, and floral subjects,
he loved to paint farm scenes and churches, remembered from years past.
Following 57 years of
marriage, Maxine preceded Orville in death in 1999. After renewing a high
school friendship with Mary Louise McCaslin of Tulsa, Okla., they were married
on Jan. 9, 2000. Mary added her four adult children, their spouses, children
and grandchildren to the family.
Orville, a devoted and loving
husband and father, is survived by his wife, Mary Louise of home; daughters,
Karen Arrambide (Mike) of Colorado Springs, Co. and Judy Kafka (Jim) of Kansas
City, Mo.; four grandchildren, Michelle Kleeberger, Todd Arrambide, Danielle
Underwood, and Carrie Kafka; and nine great-grandchildren.
"May all who come behind
us find us faithful" was Orville's most fervent desire. We found him
faithful.
Visitation for Mr. Horst will
be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday at Chapel of the Roses Funeral Home, 3450
El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422. Graveside services will follow at 2 p.m.
at Atascadero District Cemetery.
