GLADYS VAN HORNE
Gladys Marie Van Horne, 97, passed peacefully August 17, 2024, at Good Shepherd Nursing Home. She was a retired news reporter and lifestyle editor at the Wheeling/Sunday News-Register, where she wrote a popular column, “On the Go/People and Places.”
Mrs. Van Horne began her professional life at the Martins Ferry Times Leader, the day after graduation from Martins Ferry High School in 1944. She attended Kent State University. The years before going to work at the News Register, she was a homemaker.
Born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, September 26, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Ottie and Louise (Perkins) Secoy. Others who preceded her in death were her husband, Bill Van Horne, recognized as the dean of Ohio Valley sportswriters; an infant brother Eugene Secoy; an infant daughter, Wilma Louise Fullerton; her first husband Richard W. Fullerton; sister, Ruth Rinkes, and her son Clark R. Fullerton.
Survivors include her son, Todd W. Fullerton (Penny) of Glen Dale, WV; a stepdaughter, Linda Van Horne (Robert) Ellis of Surprise, AZ; grandchildren, Jaclyn M. Fullerton of Wheeling, WV, Jacob W. Fullerton (Caroline), great-grandson, Jack L. Fullerton of Lewisburg, WV and Jayme M. Mumley of Sarasota, FL; sister Edith Pappas of Elyria, OH; step-granddaughter, Tina ( Ryan) Hasher and family of Phoenix, AZ; a niece Michaelene Reiser and nephews, Steve (Lorel) Pappas, Thomas (Patti) Rinkes and David Rinkes; several great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her newspaper career, she was active in civic and cultural programs including the YWCA of Wheeling; Oglebay Institute Mansion Museums Committee; the Wheeling Symphony Board of Directors; the WWVA Walkway of the Stars and the board of the Children’s Home of Wheeling. Retirement years found her enjoying the Wheeling Civic Garden Center and the facilities of the public libraries in Wheeling, Martins Ferry, and Bellaire.
She was a member of the Stone Presbyterian Church in Elm Grove.
Family and friends will be received Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 11 till time of service at 1pm at the Wilson Funeral Home – Heslop Chapel, 415 Walnut St., Martins Ferry, OH 43935.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to one of the libraries mentioned or to the donor’s choice in memory of Gladys.
To leave online condolences please visit www.wislonfuneral homes.com.