Lynne Meredith Van Horn

On August 29, 2021, Lynne Meredith Holtzclaw Van Horn died peacefully. Lynne was born September 16, 1940, in Buffalo, New York to the late William Meredith and Marion Eugenia Osborn Holtzclaw. Lynne attended Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, where she was Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, and majored in Home Economics. On August 31, 1963, Lynne married Ray Leroy Van Horn, relocating to Chicago, Illinois for Ray to complete his MBA. While in Chicago, Lynne attended the Ray Vogue College of Design, specializing in Retail Merchandising. Lynne and Ray moved 20 times to advance Ray’s career and added 2 children to their marriage: Lawrence (Larry) and Katherine (Katie). Lynne found her passion helping others and while living in Simsbury Connecticut. Lynne became an Emergency Medical Technician. She especially enjoyed being a part of the volunteer ambulance team and taught the class to others wanting to pursue this career. While in Chicago Lynne was able to further her desire to help others by working as a nurse's aid in a pediatrician’s office, where she loved not only the people she worked with, but also the kids she helped. On the next stop in Rogers, Arkansas, Lynne took classes at the community college so that she could work as an Oncology nurse's aid, helping many people in their battle with cancer. Retirement was a welcome change as Lynne and Ray relocated to Annapolis, Maryland. They were fortunate Katie also chose to live in Maryland, creating many family events. Lynne enjoyed entertaining, and was a skilled mate on the family sailboat, “Scimitar”. They enjoyed travelling the country in their motorhome with Lynne’s beloved English Setter “Freckles”, visiting many National Parks and making new friends along the way. Lynne was an excellent bridge player, loved to garden, becoming a Master Gardener, and loved making chocolate chip cookies for her grandchildren. Another fun fact was Lynne was an avid sports fan from PGA golf, The Washington Nationals (attending a game whenever possible with her family), The Washington Capitals and the Washington Redskins (yes, when she was watching they were still called the Redskins!). After Larry and Katie married, Larry’s children: Leland, Madeline, Harrison, and Meredith; and Katie & Gem’s sons: Kevin and Bryan, added much vitality and love to Lynne’s and Ray’s lives as “Nana” and “Papa”. For their fiftieth wedding anniversary, Lynne and Ray invited the entire family to a cruise and land trip to Alaska. Annual family reunions are an integral Van Horn tradition. In 2014 Lynne and Ray relocated to Bayleigh Chase Retirement Community in Easton, where Lynne played bridge, was a member of the Choir, started a “Color Me Calm” weekly art class, and participated in most community outings, Most important were daily walks throughput the Community with Freckles. One lasting achievment was marrying two of her friends. One ceremony was especially challenging— being new residents of the Eastern Shore Ray learned how challenging the Bay Brige can be to making scheduled activities-,they made it -but it was close! They joined Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Oxford in 2017. In addition to her husband Ray, Lynne is survived by their son Larry of Franklin TN, and his children: Leland, Madeline, Harrison, and Meredith; and by their daughter, Katie Gurcan and her husband Gem of Gaithersburg MD and their sons Kevin and Bryan. Lynne is also survived by a brother, Barry, of Seattle Washington, and his son, Tim and daughter Susie. She also leaves her Bayleigh Chase family. The family wish to thank the staff of the Memory Care Unit at Bayleigh Chase for their genuine caring assistance to Lynne during the past several years, and the Talbot Hospice staff, who provided additional care the last week of Lynne’s life. A Church Celibration of Life is scheduled for September 14 at 11 AM at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Oxford. A graveside service and burial will be held at the Van Horn Family Cemetery in Findlay, Ohio later this year. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Bayleigh Chase Memory Care, 501 Dutchmans Lane Easton , MD 21601 in Lynne’s memory.

Lynne Meredith Van Horn

September 16, 1940 - August 29, 2021