Thomas H. Horner

Thomas H. Horner “Tom”

 March 29, 1928 - January 19, 2024

Thomas H. Horner, formally of Canton Ohio, a well-respected Northeast Ohio banker, philanthropist, and devoted family man, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2024, in Hudson Ohio. He was 95 years old.

Mr. Horner was married in 1956 to Virginia "Ginnie" Jackson Horner (d. 2014) and was the son of longtime Clevelanders, the late William Wattles Horner, and Caroline Clagett Horner.  Siblings include sister, Mary H. McLeod of Chagrin Falls, Ohio (surviving) and brothers, Charles William W. Horner “Bill” and James Alexander Horner “Jim” both of whom preceded him in death.  He is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins who love him dearly.

A man of many passions, Tom was a lover of animals, patron of the arts, avid gardener, devoted Episcopalian, and mentor to many business professionals.   

He was a family-centric, loving, supportive, and nurturing uncle and cousin to many members of the Horner clan across multiple generations.   Tom’s love for family was instilled in him from early childhood when he spent summers with his cousins at his grandmother’s and aunt’s farm in Charles Town, WV.

Born March 29, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, Thomas Harvey Horner was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio.  His early education would include Shaker’s Malvern Elementary School and Cleveland’s University School, class of 1946. He graduated from Denison University in 1950 with a Baccalaureate in the Arts.  It was at “Denidoo”, as he often referred to Denison, that he was an active Member of the University Kappa Sigma fraternity.  Post graduation, Horner would serve his Alma Mater, initially, as a career advisor at the Knowlton Center, and later as a member of the Board of Trustees.  Tom would serve his country during this period from 1950 – 1952 as a member of the U.S. Army. In 1954, Tom received an additional Baccalaureate degree in Business Administration from Western Reserve University.

Horner was a second-generation banker listed in Marquis Who’s Who, following his father’s lead.  His noteworthy banking career began with the Central National Bank of Cleveland as a loan officer (1955 – 1963). Later, relocating to Utica, New York with his wife Ginnie, where he worked with Marine Midland Trust Company from 1963 – 1967.  In 1967, he returned to Northeast Ohio to serve as Vice-President of Union Commerce Bank, Cleveland from 1967 – 1970. In 1970 Tom became vice president and director of Peoples-Merchants Trust Company of Canton, Ohio.  From 1975 through 1977 he served as president/chief executive officer of Dime Bank. In 1977,he became Senior Vice-President of the Central Trust Company of Northeastern Ohio which was later acquired by Bank One.  He retired from Bank One in the early 1990s.  During his retirement he was quite active, serving as a Member of Malone College's advisory board and as a mentor to many aspiring professionals and advisor to many businesses through the Senior Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

Professional membership includes:

• Robert Morris Associates, President, 1973- 1974, Board Governors 1985 – 1988
• American Institute of Banking
• American Bankers Association
• American Heart Association, Trustee, 1974

Social Memberships include:

• Chagrin Valley Hunt Club, Gates Mills Ohio -member
• Little Harbor Club, Harbor Springs, Michigan - member
• Congress Lake Club, Hartsville Ohio – past member

Tom had a passion for the Arts, particularly the visual arts.  He was an avid art collector including works from Alice Schillie and “Cleveland School” artists including Charles E. Burchfield, Carl Gaertner, and Frank Wilcox to name a few. He was actively involved in the Cleveland Print Club and was a member of both the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Canton Museum of Art where he was Trustee and later president.

Tom was an active Episcopalian and was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church - Canton Ohio, and St Paul’s Church – Cleveland Heights Ohio.   His most recent affiliation was with Christ Church Episcopal of Hudson Ohio near where he lived.  

The family wishes to thank the many caregivers who took care of Tom.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donation in Tom’s memory to the Canton Museum of Art or the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106, followed by a reception.

The service will be livestreamed at;   https://www.stpauls-church.org/blog/in-memory-of-tom-horner/