Edwin "James" HOCKER

   Research Notes:

Obit extract:

Edwin James Hocker, of Pflugerville, passed away on February 29, 2004, at the age of 84. Edwin was born on August 9, 1919, to Ollie and Bessie Miles Hocker in Austin, Colorado. He graduated from Austin High School in Austin, Texas, in 1936. In January of 1941, Edwin joined the Navy, and on August 23, 1942, he married Harriet Bohls at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pflugerville. In World War II, Edwin served aboard the USS Hancock aircraft carrier for the major part of the war and participated in 55 battles with the Japanese. Within three years he was promoted to Chief, and he eventually retired as an E-9, Master Chief Petty Officer, the highest enlisted rank possible. His specialty was aircraft maintenance, and he advanced from reciprocating engine maintenance technician to jet engine instructor. He also flew as crew chief aboard early-warning aircraft. The family moved many times and lived in six states and Newfoundland, Canada. Edwin also was assigned sea duty and visited areas such as the Mediterranean. In 1967 he retired after 26- 1/2 years of service to the Navy and his country. Edwin and Harriet moved to Austin, where he initially worked a few years for Bryant Engineering. Then Edwin worked 13 years as a supervisor for the University of Texas and retired again in 1981. They moved to Pflugerville in 1976, and Edwin was elected Mayor in 1982. He enjoyed dominoes, gardening, visiting, and helping at Immanuel Lutheran Church with newsletters and reports. Edwin and Harriet were married for over 61 years. He was noted for his generosity to his family and assisted with at least eight college educations. Edwin was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Cornelius and Leon Hocker. He is survived by his wife, Harriet Bohls Hocker; brothers, Alvin and Marvin Hocker; sister, Marie and husband, Jim Stokes; son,

Jim' and wife, Linda Hocker of Pflugerville; daughters, Helen and husband, Larry Jones of Brock, and Yvonne and husband, Don Volz of New Braunfels; grandsons, Mark and wife, Heather Hocker, Kurt and wife, Antoinette Hocker, Brian Joyce, and John Joyce; granddaughter, Amy Marshall and husband, Anthony Zabukovec; and great-granddaughter, Kayla Mary Hocker. ¹

   Marriage Information:

Edwin married Harriet Thekla BOHLS, daughter of Florenz John BOHLS and Thekla Ernestine GANZERT, on 23 Aug 1942 in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pflugerville, Travis, TX, USA. (Harriet Thekla BOHLS was born on 27 Feb 1921 in Travis Co., TX, USA and died on 7 May 2013.)