C. Albert Horstman

C. Albert (“Al”) Horstman, Jr., 89, of Centerville, OH peacefully passed away March 18, 2024 at the Dayton VA Hospice Unit, Victory Ridge.


Dayton, OH was home to Al since his birth on May 21, 1934. The oldest of 3 children, he attended Corpus Christi elementary school, Sacred Heart and graduated from Chaminade High School 1951. Following a year at the University of Notre Dame, he transferred to the University of Dayton and graduated in 1955 with a degree in pre-law. It was at the University of Dayton he met his lifelong love, Molly Moore.


Not one to let the grass grow under his feet, Al joined the United States Marine Corps in 1955, attending Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA. In 1956 he returned to Dayton to marry Molly, then they moved to Pensacola, FL, where he completed his flight training. In ‘57 they welcomed their first daughter, Jeanne, then received orders sending them to Hawaii, where Kathy (#2 daughter) was born a year later. Al loved the military and being a pilot - flying single engine props (AT-6 Trainer, T-34, T-28, Cessna 172); single engine jet aircraft (FJ-4, TV-2 Trainer, F8U); multi-engines (SNB, Beechcraft); and helicopters (Piasecki, Sikorsky, Bell, Kamen, Hughes). He was carrier qualified, a flight instructor and had his commercial license.


Al returned to Dayton with his family and practiced his entrepreneurial ways by opening a couple of nightclubs downtown and working some other odd jobs. After welcoming 2 more daughters (Kelly and Molly), Al moved his family to Sylvania, OH where he ventured in commercial real estate development, fund-raising, publishing and flew commercially (providing traffic reports; pulling banners; law enforcement). He and his wife had daughter #5 (Micki)!


After raising their family in Sylvania, Al and Molly returned to their roots in Dayton. Al continued to “create” by building a commercial real estate publication business and most recently, a private sport fishing club.


While Al invested a lot of time in his career and family, he had a generous heart for others. He created a “Club-n-Putter” golf tournament to support a friend who was suffering from MS; offered free helicopter rides to kids; hosted fishing tournaments in support of the Wounded Warrior Project; and volunteered at the Dayton VA and Wright Patterson’s National Museum of the USAF. Al was a prankster; he was fun and filled with optimism! He was an avid golfer; great card player; gardener; forward thinker; risk taker; dog enthusiast; good cook; loyal friend; wonderful, protective father; spoiling grandfather; loving husband and a man with an unmatchable will to live. When asked, he admitted his greatest accomplishment in his life was “picking the right woman to marry” (Molly, his wife of 67 years). Al will be deeply missed.


Al was grandson to the late Albert A. Horstman, long-time Dayton Democratic national committeeman, and son to the late Clarence A. Horstman, President of the former Horstman Printing Company on Wayne Avenue. He was also preceded in death by his mother (Mildred Warren Horstman), wife (Molly Moore Horstman) and two sisters (Patty (Javier) Castaneda, Connie (Dick) Reid). He is survived by his daughters (5), Jeanne (Todd) Johnson, Kathy (Tom) Hinds, Kelly (Dan) McCloskey, Molly (Tee Pazitney) Horstman and Micki (Bill) Fitzgerald; grandchildren (6), Jennifer (Justin) Brown, Sara (Jeremy) Langenderfer, Kevin Hinds, Kristina (Ryan) Roeber, Colman (Mikenzie) Fitzgerald and Kennedy (Andrew) Cassman; and great grandchildren (6), Amelia, Lily, Everett, Colman, Roman and Bernadette; several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.


The family has tremendous gratitude for his vast healthcare team and the care they provided for more than 30 years. Special thanks to Drs. Albert Malcolm and David Key and the entire staff of Dayton VA Hospice.


Visitation will be Friday, April 5, 2024 from 5 - 8 pm at Westbrock Funeral Home, 5980 Bigger Road in Kettering, OH. A Catholic mass will be held at St. Leonard Church, 8100 Clyo Road, Centerville, OH on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 10 am.


Donations may be made to the Dayton VA Hospice Unit or Dayton VA Fisher House