John Hill Horn

"Big" John Horn passed away on December 18, 2025, at age 80, after a short illness. God broke the mold on May 31, 1945, when John was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to Joseph H. Horn and Arnell McKinley Horn.

John spent his first six years in South Memphis before moving to Bartlett in 1951. His father, Joe Horn, built a beautiful home for the family on two acres on Kenwood in Bartlett. John began first grade at Bartlett Elementary School, where he met a girl named Charlotte Allen-who would later become his wife.

In 1955, John's family moved to Jackson, Tennessee, when his father was transferred to open a new lumber mill and supply company for Central Woodwork. Despite the move, John frequently returned to Memphis to visit his Aunt Mable Wilkinson and Uncle Tyson Wilkinson. Those visits often involved hanging out with a large group of friends and plenty of mischief on the streets of South Memphis.

John and his family stayed in touch with Charlotte over the years, and after graduating from North Side High School in 1963, he returned to Memphis to attend Memphis State University. Thanks to a phone call from Aunt Mable letting Charlotte know John was moving back to town, the two reconnected during college. John and Charlotte married in 1965 at Raleigh Church of Christ.

Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where John attended technical school and earned a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. He was soon recruited by General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas, where he worked on the F-111 aircraft. John and Charlotte made many friends in Fort Worth. Whenever they returned to Memphis to visit family, they would buy BBQ pizzas from Coletta's on South Parkway, pack them in dry ice, and sell them to friends back in Texas.

In 1970, John and Charlotte returned home to Memphis and welcomed their only child, Melanie-the apple of John's eye. John went to work for his Uncle Tyson at Wilkinson Petrol Service, Inc., an oil and gas distribution company specializing in Texaco petroleum products. He worked alongside his uncle until Uncle Tyson's death in 1990 and continued running the business until his own retirement in 1995.

Retirement didn't slow John down for long. Never one to sit still, he soon began doing handyman work all over the city and continued working until becoming ill in 2025.

After returning to Memphis, John and Charlotte attended Raleigh Church of Christ, now known as Bartlett Woods Church of Christ. John loved working with the Raleigh Church of Christ youth group and mentoring young men. The kids at church adored "Mr. John," and he loved every one of them right back.

Outside of work, John pursued his lifelong passion for motorcycles. Over the years, he owned numerous Harleys and took several cross-country rides-his favorites being trips to California, Montana, Daytona Beach, and Key West. His stories from these adventures were legendary, especially when shared alongside his friend "Down the Road" Dan Bumpus.

In 2009, John sold his last motorcycle and (almost) hung up his helmet for good. After Dan passed away in 2017, John honored his memory with one final ride, renting a Harley from Bumpus Harley-Davidson and traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway from Memphis to Front Royal, Virginia.

You always knew when Big John entered a room. When he received his eternal reward on December 18, the world became a little quieter-and a lot less funny. John never met a stranger. He greeted everyone with a smile, a hug, or a handshake, and he had a nickname for nearly everyone he knew. He worked hard, played hard, and lived life to the fullest.

John formed deep bonds with his large group of friends at the Bartlett Rec Center, where he was a charter member. Every Christmas, his daughter gave him a "You Might Be a Redneck If…" calendar. Each day he went to "the Rec," John brought along the day's joke and made sure everyone saw it-even if that meant standing in front of a treadmill so someone could read it.

John loved the Lord, his family, his Bartlett Woods Church of Christ family, and his many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph H. and Arnell M. Horn; his brother, Reggie C. Horn; his "best mother-in-law ever," Lucille H. Allen; and his father-in-law, Hugh H. Allen.

He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Charlotte A. Horn ("Poopie"); his daughter, Melanie A. Busch ("Scooter"); her husband, James W. Busch ("Arkabutla"), all of Bartlett; and his three grand dogs-Gabby ("Blaze"), Ollie ("Nervous"), and Tucker ("Pucker"). He is also survived by his sister, Stephanie Nikbakht ("Sister"), and her husband, Jamshid Nikbakht, of Florida; his sister-in-law, Jane Horn, of Memphis; nieces Katherine Perkins, Mary Margaret Celosse, Mariam Bottom, and Ellen Nikbakht; several grand-nieces and nephews; and a host of friends near and far.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff at King's Daughters and Sons, where John spent his final days.

Memorials may be made to Bartlett Woods Church of Christ (7900 Old Brownsville Road, Arlington, TN 38002), West Tennessee Border Collie Rescue (PO Box 38324, Germantown, TN 38183), or the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (https://nleomf.org/).

The family will receive friends at Bartlett Woods Church of Christ on Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., with the service immediately following.

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