Vada Beutke Horner of Alachua died on May 9, 2021. Born on January 31, 1943 to Fred and Theresa Beutke, she grew up on her family’s farm in Alachua, graduated from Santa Fe High in 1961 and earned her bachelor’s degree from FSU in 1966.
Vada began her 39-year teaching career in Lake City, where she met her husband Edward Horner and married him in 1968. She taught at Terwilliger Elementary, Alachua Elementary and W.W. Irby Elementary until her retirement in 2006. In 1996, she was Irby Elementary’s Teacher of the Year.
She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Alachua and was an elder. Vada was a founding member and president of the Alachua Friends of the Library and tutored students at the library. She had served on the Matheson Museum Board of Directors and was a founding member of the Historical Society of Alachua and member of the Newnansville Cemetery Association. She was a docent at the Dudley Farm Historic State Park.
Vada joined the Alachua Woman’s Club in 1977 and served in every position on the board except president. She worked with the Alachua Chamber of Commerce on special events and was honored as the 2010-11 Volunteer of the Year. She created an agriculture scholarship and was active with the Food4Kids Backpack Program.
Vada recently received the Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor, presented to an American who promotes historic preservation, education and patriotism. She rescued many animals over the years and enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends across the country.
The most important rule that Vada had in her classroom and all aspects of her life was the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ed and is survived by Ed’s three children (Mike, Debbie, and Jeff), six grandchildren and five great grandchildren along with her brother Amos Beutke of Alachua and sister Naomi Lundy of Eustis, Florida; nephews Earl (Liz) and Fred (Lisa) Lundy, Jason (Kristen) Beutke and niece Allyson (David) DeVito; great nephews and nieces RJ and Krysta Lundy, Kate and John Parker Lundy and Judson, Adley, Haddon and Makayla Beutke.
Funeral will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Alachua 14005 N.W. 146 Ave. Alachua, Florida. with Rev. Gary Hardesty officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A private, family only burial will follow. A time of celebration and sharing including lunch will be hosted by the Alachua Women’s Club immediately following the funeral. All are invited.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alachua Woman’s Club Rose Petals Scholarship fund, her church or any of the organizations named above. Arrangements are under the care of MILAM FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES 311 S. Main ST Gainesville, FL 32601. 352-376-5361 https://milamfh.com/testimonial/vada-horner/
