Eileen Ruth (McCall) Hornung, 94, of West Portsmouth, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family. She was born on May 29, 1930, in Dry Run of West Portsmouth to Charles and Lillian (Walden) McCall.
Along with her parents, Eileen was preceded in death by her son, Joey Hornung; stepson, Charles (Chuck) Hornung; siblings, Dennis and Kenneth McCall; great granddaughter Carmyn Smith; and former husband, David Hornung.
Eileen dedicated her life to her family, faith, and community. She worked at Williams Shoe Factory in the 1950s and later at the Portsmouth Times in the 1980s, but her greatest and most cherished role was that of a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. Raising her seven children, two stepsons, and a grandson, Eileen was a devoted matriarch who filled her home with love and prayer.
A lifelong member of the West Portsmouth Church of the Nazarene, Eileen taught Sunday school for many years and was a true prayer warrior. She instilled in her family the power of prayer, encouraging them to pray for family and friends across the country, calling them out by name. Her profound love for God and others guided every aspect of her life – she would count her many blessings one by one.
Eileen found joy in the simple things—working in her yard well into her nineties, saving things in case someone might need them, being a loving and kind neighbor, and passionately believing in holistic healing (she was an avid fan of Dr. Becker Show for health and use of alternative medicine). She lived independently for many years and continued to drive until she was 92. Her strength, resilience, and unwavering faith were an inspiration to all who knew her.
She is survived by her loving children: Linda Smith (Derek), Brenda Jewell, Paul Hornung, Nevalee Looney (Dwight), Valerie Stewart (Daniel), and Michael Hornung; as well as her stepson, David Hornung (JoEllen). Eileen was a proud grandmother to 14 grandchildren; Leah Harris (Geoffrey), Luke Smith (Paige), Linzy Smith, Amy Jewell, Chad Jewell, Melissa Perraut (Joe), Jason Looney (Rachel), Arnold Hornung (Sarah), Gabriel Hornung, Billy Meyers (Sky), Jenny Moore (Chris), Jodi Shook (Eddie), Billy Hornung (Heather), Lorinda Slayers (David), 17 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren along with her siblings: Joan Kizer, Rich McCall, Shirley Chamberlin, Judy Kizer, and Sharon Buchanan. Eileen’s legacy of love, generosity, and faith will continue to live on through the many lives she touched. She will be profoundly missed, and her memories will be deeply treasured.
Funeral services will be 12:30 PM Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at the Roger W Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth with Dr. Todd Hill officiating and interment in Rushtown Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday starting at 11:00 AM. Donations may be made in her memory to The Heinzerling Community, in tribute to her grandson Chad, who has lived most of his life there (https://heinzerling.org/get-involved/donate/). Condolences may be sent to www.rogerwdavisfuneralhome.com.