High school sweethearts Lawrence and Doretha Van Horn were married for 68 years and built a legacy of philanthropic giving. Born in Missouri, Mrs. Van Horn moved to Baxter Springs, Kan. at the age of 10. The two met while attending Baxter Springs High School, where they both graduated. They were married in 1934 and moved to Oklahoma City. Mrs. Van Horn attended Central State Teacher's College and Mr. Van Horn attended Oklahoma City University, where he played football, basketball and baseball as a freshman. He went on to graduate from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in business, paying his tuition with a paper route for The Daily Oklahoman and The Times.
In 1935, Mr. Van Horn joined the Capitol Steel Corporation, where he retired as chairman of the board and chief executive officer after a 47-year career. He was also very active in civic organizations, serving as a trustee for both World Neighbors and Mercy Health Center.
Beginning in 1977, the couple began contributing regularly to endowments at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to support the organizations for which they were passionate. Following Mr. Horn's death in 2003, Mrs. Van Horn continued the couple's philanthropic legacy with annual gifts supporting the endowments for World Neighbors and Mercy Health Center until her death in 2012.