Gerald Dwight Hornbaker of Hutchinson died on March 15, 2022, at age 94. He was born on October 16, 1927, near Darlow, the son of Vernon Wesner and Laura Rundell Hornbaker.
On August 8, 1950, he was married to Helen Fast Hornbaker at Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church near Inman. His service will be held at the Hutchinson Funeral Chapel, 300 E. 30th Ave. Hutchinson, on Monday, March 21, 2022 at 1:00 PM. Interment will be at the Pleasant View Cemetery south of Hutchinson.
Gerald graduated from Partridge High School and Emporia State Teachers College, and was a Kansas educator for 38 years. The last 27 years of his career were spent with the Lyons School District, where he served as a District Administrator and Elementary Principal at Park School and on Kansas State textbook committees.
A lifetime member of Kiwanis International, Gerald served as President of the Lyons club. He loved to sing in the church choir and men’s gospel quartets. He played and coached basketball and enjoyed rooting for K-State, KU, and the Royals. Each fall, when younger, he could be found walking fields, hunting pheasants with his sons. He prided himself on his lawn care and gardening. His sense of humor was infectious.
He leaves to mourn: sons Gordon (Susan) Hornbaker of Elizabeth, Colorado, and Ron (Kaori) Hornbaker of Austin, Texas; grandchildren Angela (Dave) Kerschen, Traci Hornbaker, Laura (Jason) Smith, Grant Hornbaker, Lydia Hornbaker, and Colson Hornbaker. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren, and by one sister, Esther White of Haviland. He was preceded in death by his parents, eleven siblings, his wife, and eldest son, Garret.