John R. Hocker

August 11, 1935 – August 19, 2020
Colonel John R. Hocker, US Army retired, of Bethesda, Maryland peacefully passed away on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Colorado after a brief battle with cancer. John was a devoted husband, loyal brother, loving father, and proud grandparent. He was a man of deep faith who loved his family, his country, his years of military service, and the many friends he made at every stage of life. He will be missed by all in his community who loved him for his gentle spirit, humility, and eagerness to help others.

John was born in Elwood, Indiana and distinguished himself in academics and sports which earned him an appointment to the US Military Academy, and a spot on the West Point track team. He graduated from West Point in 1957 with honors. During his Army career, he served as an airborne ranger, with over 600 parachute jumps, completed combat tours in Vietnam and Cambodia, and accepted positions all over the world. John had a spirit of adventure and curiosity and a passion for experiencing the world. Early in his career, he was selected as an Olmsted Scholar to receive his master’s degree in applied mathematics at the University of Freiburg in Germany and was later selected to teach math at West Point. He was also chosen to attend the French War College in Paris for a two-year tour where he represented the US and parachuted into the D-Day memorial ceremony in Normandy in 1977.

Following a distinguished career in the Army, John joined Martin Marietta for 12 years as a director in the space and communications division. Later, he was appointed Executive Director of the Nationals Science and Technology Medals Foundation, a non-profit organization to support and enhance the profiles of the laureates of Science and Technology awarded medals by the President of the United States each year. In retirement, he faithfully volunteered until January of this year for SCORE, a DC non-profit, where he mentored small business and non-profit leaders. Throughout his career, John never lost his love of serving and inspiring others, and always left an organization better than he found it.

John was married to Barbara (née Siemers) of Wakefield, Kansas for 58 years. They met and married in Bamberg, Germany while he was on assignment and she was a schoolteacher, later becoming a reading specialist. Their first assignment was as Aide-de-Camp in Naples, Italy to Admiral Russell, the second highest ranking officer in the Navy, and commander of Allied Southern Forces in Europe. There they entertained the likes of then Vice President Johnson and many other dignitaries from around the world. John was a man of many talents: fluent in German and French, an expert ski instructor along with wife Barbara, accomplished parachutist, elder of his church, community volunteer, and Sudoku and crossword aficionado.

Most important to John was his family and his Christian faith. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, daughter Connie (husband Greg) Buchalter of Colorado Springs, CO and son Guy (wife Michelle) Hocker of Arlington, VA. He was a loving grandfather to Allison (husband Sam) Ivan, Ryan and Cameron Buchalter, and Rachel and Julia Hocker. John’s siblings include: Margaret (husband Bill) Muston (both deceased), twin sisters: Nancy (husband Larry) Pedro (both deceased) and Linda (husband Mike) Hardin, and twin brothers: Jerry (wife Bonnie) Hocker and Larry (wife Sharon) Hocker. He was proceeded in death by his parents Joseph and Helen Hocker. John was a long-time member of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland where he served as an elder, directed the new members class for over 25 years, and developed many of his closest and dearest friends.

Flowers are being received by Fourth Presbyterian Church on the morning of January 11, 2021. Memorial contributions to honor John Hocker's memory are gratefully accepted by Fourth Presbyterian Church.

The following is the link of the live stream: https://vimeo.com/497322679/76be89ec4b