Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BORN
1920
DIED
2014
FUNERAL HOME
Sidney VAN HORN Obituary
Sidney Welby Van Horn, age 94, the legendary American tennis coach and former top 4 world class tennis player, passed away on September 17, 2014, in Hospice care at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, FL. Welby was born in Los Angeles, CA on September 8, 1920 to the late Sidney Stuart Van Horn and Trella Irene (Anderson) Van Horn-Haugen. Also preceded in death by his step-father, Einar Haugen, his former wife, Judith (Tomerlin) Van Horn, his sister, Suzanne (Van Horn) Benefield, his cousin, Anabelle Miller, and his brother-in-law, Tommie Douglas Benefield. He is survived by his sons, Stuart Van Horn and Bryce Van Horn, their wives, Kathleen Van Horn and Lisa Van Horn, his grandchildren, Shane, Megan, Natalie, Liam, his step-grandchildren, Julia, Quinlan, and his nephews, Tommie and Terri Benefield. Welby was a top world class tennis player during his amateur (1938-1941) and professional (1942-1951) playing career. He played against such greats as Bill Tilden, Ellsworth Vines, Fred Perry, Don Budge, Bobby Riggs, Jack Kramer, Frank Kovacs, Pancho Segura, and Pancho Gonzalez. Upon retiring from the professional tour in 1951, he turned his full time attention to becoming a tennis coach, and moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he lived until 1991. His coaching acumen and style resulted in developing Puerto Rican junior tennis into a US national championship power house and put Puerto Rico on the world tennis map. Between 1971 and 1991, Welby ran summer tennis camps at the Choate School (Connecticut), Pinehurst Country Club (North Carolina), and the Boca Raton Resort and Club (Florida). While in semi-retirement, from 1991 until his passing, he was Tennis Professional Emeritus at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, CA. Cremation was handled by Edgley Cremation Services and a private family remembrance ceremony was held. Remembrance ceremonies for friends are planned at a later date in Palm Springs, CA and San Juan, PR. To express condolences and/or make donations: Visit memorialwebsites.legacy.com/welbyvanhorn.
To express condolences and/or make donations: Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Sidney VAN HORN
Sponsored by Edgley Cremation Services - West Palm Beach.
1 Entry
January 21, 2016
I met Welby Van Horn only once, in 1948 or 1949. I was playing in the US 15's at Kalamazoo. I had seen him play during the war on Tilden's War Bond tour. A beautiful game. He came up to young me after a match at Kalamazoo, introduced himself and complimented me on my play, even though I had lost. Thought it so nice of him, a legendary player even back then, to take the time to cheer up someone he didn't even know. Big heart. Al Kuhn
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 results
Make a Donation
in Sidney VAN HORN's name
Memorial Events
for Sidney VAN HORN
Funeral services provided by:
Edgley Cremation Services - West Palm Beach4128 Westroads Drive Suite 203, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
How to support Sidney's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Sidney VAN HORN's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
