Homer died June 26, 2016, in Salem, Oregon. He was born November 25, 1925, in Greenford, Ohio. He graduated from Hesston, a Mennonite school in Central Kansas.

He was a member of the CPS-103 smokejumper unit during WWII. Homer was 19 years old when he reported for smokejumper training. In addition to his seven training jumps, he had seven fire jumps during the busy 1945 season.

Homer worked as a professional house painter after moving to Oregon in 1947. He was a member of the Zion Mennonite Church and was married to his wife, Josie, for 68 years.