David Alan VanHorn, PhD, P.E.

David Alan VanHorn Sr., 91, of Bethlehem, died September 2, 2021. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the husband of Barbara VanHorn for 43 years.

He was a 1951 graduate of Iowa State University where he earned a degree in civil engineering and a master’s and doctoral degrees in civil engineering in 1956 and 1959.

He worked three years for the Federal Highway Administration. He began a 37-year career in education in the civil engineering department at Iowa State University. He then taught at Lehigh University where he became a full professor. He was for 17 years the chairman of the department. He was, during a three-year leave from Lehigh, a visiting scientist in the Office of the Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. He retired in 1995 as a Professor Emeritus.

He received Lehigh University’s most distinguished award for teaching. He was a 23-year contributor to and a Fellow of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. He had a long list of published research on structural behavior of concrete structures. He contributed through service to the American Society of Civil Engineering. He was in 2001 recognized by ASCE with their highest honor for his career in engineering education, teaching, structural engineering research and outstanding professional service.

He was a president of the board of the Buchanan Park Housing Corporation, Bethlehem. He was a Rotary Club member and held other civic and charitable positions.

He is survived by two children and their spouses, Deborah (VanHorn) and Mark Werner and David and Diana VanHorn; two grandchildren, Elisa Cook and Kristen Ackert; three great-grandchildren, Claire, Caleb and Dylan; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Brendon and Kathleen Donlin; and two nieces, Caitlin Donlin and Stacy Fisher.

Contributions may be made to Lehigh University Athletic Department, c/o Lehigh Athletics, 641 Taylor St., Bethlehem, PA 18015.

Arrangements were made by Connell Funeral Home Inc., Bethlehem.