Howard Horschler

Howard Owen Horschler was born on March 10, 1925 to Ernest and Exa Horschler on their farm seven miles south of Temple, Oklahoma.  He passed away on the same farm 94 years later, on August 15, 2019.  

He went to school onequarter mile from there at the Liberty Hill School, a one room schoolhouse he watched built by the WPA.  Later, he attended Temple Public Schools, graduating in 1942.  He attended Oklahoma State University, being a member of the swimming and diving team.

Howard was a successful farmer-rancher in Cotton County his whole life.  He also worked as a finish carpenter, furniture and cabinet builder, and boat designer-builder. He always was proud to have been the jack foreman for building the Temple elevator and bridges on Cache Creek on Highway 70.  

He married Valeria Wood on February 27, 1949 in Chowchilla, California.  They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this year in February.  

He served on the Cotton County Farm Bureau Board and held numerous leadership positions at his church.

Howard loved gardening, building with his hands, reading, travelling, and camping at Lake Murray and Lake Texoma.  He was one of the first water-skiers on Lake Texoma and Temple Lake and taught numerous family, friends, and Ft. Sill soldiers how to water ski and sail.  He loved homemade ice cream and Valeria’s homemade bread, watching his grandchildren’s ballgames, visiting the Wichita Mountains where he picnicked with family since he was a little boy, and sitting around a campfire with his cousin after fishing.  

He was preceded in death by his son, Danny Horschler, his sister, Helen Binder, and his nephew, Howard LaWayne Lewis.  He is survived by his wife, Valeria Horschler; two daughters- Doris Ann Sorenson and husband Chris of Temple, Oklahoma and Debby Murach and husband Scott of Benbrook, Texas; five grandchildren- Misty Akcil, Marena McCorbin,  Rob Bagwell, Libby Whitecotton, and Molley Blades-Blevins; five great-grandchildren- Christian, Leyla, Mina, Avery, and Bash.  

Private burial services were held Sunday, August 25, 2019 at Temple Cemetery.  

Memorial donations may be given to the Temple FFA Chapter, P.O. Box 400, Temple, OK 73568.