Victor Hornbostel Obituary

Victor passed away on July 14, 2014. He was born on September 17, 1919 in Canton, Kansas, to Rev. Otto and Hulda Hornbostel.

He received his undergraduate education at St. John's Junior College, Winfield, Kansas and graduated from Emporia State Teachers College in 1942. He received his Masters Degree in 1947 and PhD in 1954 from the University of Wisconsin in educational administration.

During World War II, he served as Communications Officer on the USS Overton (destroyer transport) from April, 1943 to June, 1945, serving in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. He taught seamanship at the US Naval Academy from 1945-1946.

Vic worked as Director of Research for the Wisconsin Education Association from 1948 to 1952, Assistant Director of Research at the National Education Association from 1952 to 1964; Professor of Educational Administration at Oklahoma State University from 1964 to 1967; Professor of Educational Administration at Bowling Green State University from 1967 to 1970; Dean of Education at the University of Tulsa from 1970 to 1976; and Professor of Educational Leadership from 1976 to 1984.

He fought for his country and learned the futility of war. He looked out at the Pacific Ocean on night watch and saw that religions were too small to capture the mystery. He lived a life for social justice and believed in equality for all people. That is where his heart is.

His wife of 64 years, Rubye, passed away in 2010. His family are his sons: Pat and his wife, Margaret; Charles; Bill and his wife, Janice; and Gary and his former wife, Phyllis. His grandchildren are Chris Hornbostel and his fiancé Christina Rogner and their children Tyler and Cayson; JoAnna Barrell, her husband Mike and their daughter, Fara; Bennett Hornbostel and his husband Ken; Kaitlin Hornbostel; and Megan Hornbostel and her partner, Heather Lane.

Memorial donations can be made to the United Nations Children's Emergency Relief Fund at Unicefusa.org