Homer, age 89, died in Detroit, Michigan on May 31, 2009. He was born at Friends Mission, Selawik, Alaska, a remote native village near the Arctic Circle where his parents were part of the Friends (Quaker) missionary work. When the family returned to the lower 48, he attended Friends University where he graduated in Biology in 1942. His graduation creed to live by was "Know then, that some of us are gentlemen."

Homer registered for the draft on July 1, 1941. As a member of one of the Peace Churches he qualified for the Civilian Public Service program. He jumped at McCall for two seasons making three fire jumps in 1944 and seven in 1945.