Birth date: Feb 23, 1921 Death date: Nov 11, 2018
Husband, father, musician, teacher left this world on November 11, 2018. He was born in Hollywood, CA on February 23, 1921. He was 97 years old. Raised in Santa Paula, CA he was already an avid musician by the time he was in high Read Obituary
11-14-2025. I had a dream about Mr Van Horn last night. I was in a church, couldn’t find a seat, and there Mr Van Horn was in the aisle, we greeted each other, but no words are remembered, save some long lost memories. I have not thought about him in over 50 years, and I can’t explain the dream, but it was very real. My favorite teacher of all time!!! He was such a character!!!
I remember him in the pit @ the Orange Show, playing for Bob Hope. God Bless Mr Van Horn!!!
Rod Van Horn was one of those teacher's and man that you always remember as very special from you school days. I remember him from my Jr. High School Days at Highland Jr. High in 1952, and dancing to his band in subsequent years. He will be missed by many.
Bob Botts
Howard Van Horn and my father were college mates at UCLA before WW2, after which they lost contact with one another, only to run into each other again by coincidence in San Bernardino probably around 1957, both now married and with children. The Van Horns are thus the very first of any of my friends. Our two families enjoyed an out-of-the-ordinary mutual friendship unlike any other, and i literally grew up with Lynnette and Roddie. i have so many wonderful memories of Howard for literally my entire life. I was always in awe of him, seriously. Besides the musician per excellence, he was also a mechanical genius. I've thought that about him ever since I was 4. But not just that---his inquiring mind went into so many different areas and he was excellent in them all---physics, chemistry, electronics, ANY subject in academia, ANYTHING--- a consummate Renaissance man if there ever was one. And his sense of humor was always a delight, from the cynical and sardonic (which i absolutely enjoyed) to the humane--- you had to be on your toes to appreciate the sense of irony in his sense of humor. Although his first choice of profession was music, his mechanical and engineering acumen was profound. You could give him a dumpster full of junk and he would be able to construct from that, sight unseen, a working automobile, or a Ferris Wheel, or a guided missle, anything. As a youngster i was a chemistry nerd and whenever i got some new items of equipment or chemicals i would show them to him to get his opinion and approval. You could ask him about anything ---and i never once heard him say "Well, I dont know...."
Every New Years we and other friends would all gather at his house to watch the Rose Parade---and not just because the Van Horns were the only ones to have a color TV !
I will miss him certainly, and mourn our loss of such a dear man but i have so many hundreds of wonderful memories of him, that even now the tears are conjoined with smiles and even laughter. Say what you may about this problematic world, but when i look for and find some measure of goodness and sincerity in years that have past, it is partly because Howard was there, living in that same world at the same time. Goodbye (for now) Howard!
Sincerely, Daniel Benson
Mr. Van Horn was not only my band teacher at Highland Jr. High in 1961, but I was his student/teacher in 1973 while working on my teaching credentials to be a music teacher. I respected his knowledge and talent, and won't forget what I learned from him. When attending concerts in San Bernardino in the 70's, I was always excited to see him playing the bass; and I would always tell my dates..."I know the bass player."
Rest in peace Rod Van Horn.
Ron Lawson
Trombonist
