George A. Horner

George A. Horner, 99, of Boxford MA, passed away on August 21, 2023. He was born in Cut Bank, Montana in 1924 and at a young age, his family moved to Linton, ND. After graduating from Linton High School in 1942, he joined the Navy and served during WWII. He trained in aviation as a radio man and gunner at Great Lakes, IL, and Jacksonville Naval Air Station (NAS) in Florida. In May of 1943 he was sent to Morocco and North Africa where he spent 18 months in ground support of Navy aircraft and doing anti-submarine warfare in the South Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and around Gibraltar. He served one year under Lt. Paul Bryant, who became famous as “Bear” Bryant of Alabama Football.

In 1944 George returned to Philadelphia, where he served with a flight crew testing Navy PBY rebuilt airplanes. He spent his last 6 months as a Navy cadet, training to become a navy pilot. When the war ended, he was honorably discharged to civilian life. He entered North Dakota State University, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1953, he joined Western Electric Co of New York as a field engineer working on radar and missile systems for the US Army which involved many moves working in Washington State, NC, White Sands Missile Range, NM, Washington, D.C., NY, NJ, and Massachusetts.

When the military work ended, he moved to the North Andover Western Electric Lucent Plant. He retired from Lucent in 1989. He enjoyed spending time with family, friends and helping his wife Nancy, in her efforts to save trails and open spaces in Boxford for public use (BTA/BOLT, Inc.) He served as treasurer of BTA/BOLT from 1990-2002 and had a special passion for the game of golf. He shot four hole-in-ones, all after the age of 74.

George is survived by his wife of 42 years Nancy Merrill, his son Richard (Susan) Horner, daughter, Leslie Horner, granddaughter, Dr Gretchen (Andrea) Paulson, and Nancy’s daughters, Christine Merrill and Susan Merrill. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Raymond, his sister Frances, his first wife Mary and his grandson Nicholas.

A visitation will be held on Friday, September 22, 2023, from 4-8pm at Conte - Giamberardino Funeral Home, 14 Pleasant St. Georgetown, MA.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 11am at Conte - Giamberardino Funeral Home. Interment with Navy honors will follow at the Village Cemetery, Boxford. Memorials may be made to; BTA/BOLT Boxford Trails Association or www.btabolt.org

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