Ruby Alice Jane Horn

Ruby Alice Jane Horn, nee Cantrell, age 89, received the greatest Christmas gift a person could ever receive, when the Presence of Almighty God came by her home at 4:02 P.M. Christmas Day and ushered her away to begin her eternal life in His presence. Alice was born on Wednesday, May 13th., 1936 on Horn Mountain, Buchanan County, Virginia, to the late Joseph David Cantrell and Betsy Horn Cantrell. She was the last remaining member of her immediate family, being preceded in death by seven sisters and one brother.

From her youth, Alice had a desire to learn and persevered to excel in her school studies. Her elementary studies were at the Horn Mountain one-room school-the same school where she later taught for several years. After elementary school, she rose early every day and walked three and a half miles off Horn Mountain to catch the school bus to the Whitewood School, making the return trek up the mountain in the afternoon. She still has report cards showing five years of perfect attendance at Whitewood. Upon graduation in 1955, her bus driver, Thomas 'Junior' Compton, relayed to his father, Thomas Compton, Sr., a Buchanan County School Board Member, that he knew a girl that has walked three and a half miles off Horn Mountain every day for the past five years to catch his bus-never missing a single day. Mr. Compton replied, "Any girl that will do that, I'll make sure she gets a teaching job at that school." Alice started teaching at the Horn Mountain School that Autumn. Alice pursued her higher education at Radford College, Bluefield State and Pikeville College in Kentucky. Alice taught school for thirty-six years at Horn Mountain and Whitewood, retiring in 1991.

Alice had a love for sewing and quilting, having made many beautiful quilts throughout her lifetime. She was also a perfectionist in Japanese Bunka Embroidery.

Alice was a founding member of Glory Land Tabernacle at Shortt Gap, Virginia, where she faithfully attended, supported and worshipped God for over fifty years. She was an avid Bible reader, having already read the Bible through twice this year and was currently reading in the Book of Luke before she passed away. She was also a member of the Whitewood Senior Citizens Group since 1991.

Alice is survived by her devoted husband of sixty-six and a half years, Walter Maze Horn of the home. She is also survived by Jerry Olinger, whom she dearly loved and considered to be the son she never had. Walter and Jerry were her faithful caregivers throughout the past few years of her life She's also survived by several nieces and nephews and a host of great friends.

The funeral service for Ruby Alice Jane Horn, nee Cantrell will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Monday, December 29, 2025 at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Virginia with Pastor Don Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill, Virginia. The family will receive friends on Monday from 12:00 PM until the time of the service.

Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands oversees arrangements, and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com