Monday, February 01, 2021

Grandpa VanHook

 These past few days I have been flooded with good memories of my grandpa. He lived a long and wonderful life. I have memories of growing up and loving going to my favorite place, grandma and grandpa's house, the house he built with his hands. Looking through all the tools in his workshop, playing basketball with cousins on the gravel (no blood, no foul), kickball games at the sidewalk corner, his awesome tire swing, catching crawdads in the creek, baseball with the walnuts, and learning how to properly play with fire while camping. I have memories of high school, running down to Bloomington to walk the par 3 with grandpa after school, getting a quick dinner at grandma's during band camp week, and playing a little band music with him at church. Getting to visit his home in Texas and seeing all the areas he had built down there too. And I will never forget when staying at their house one Christmas in 2010 when I discovered the hidden closet area he built under the stairs and how he hid/designed the entrance. When grandma and grandpa sold their house, all I wanted was some tools and odds and ends from his workshop. Now, a piece of grandpa goes in to many of my projects.

I learned a lot from my grandpa. We taught me to work hard, but not to forget to enjoy the world around you. He helped inspire my love of travel, and I loved talking to him about places we had both been, and places I had not yet been to that he told me about. I learned how to loudly sing the bass part of hymns in church, especially the ones with an echo in the bass line. I will forever think of and hear grandpa when I sing "I Surrender All". 

Thank you God for the blessing of grandpa in my life. I am sure you have already joined the band in Heaven, and inquired about where the workshop is.

 

https://www.costinfuneralchapel.com/obituary/richard-dick-van-hook

Richard "Dick" Van Hook

December 22, 1928 - January 27, 2021

U.S. Veteran

Richard Lee “Dick” Van Hook, 92, of Martinsville, passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at IU Health Bloomington Hospital.

He was born December 22, 1928 to the late Jesse and Effie Zee Van Hook in Fountain County, Indiana.

Dick served his country in the United States Navy including a tour with the “Seabees”. He also served as a firefighter in Indianapolis and worked as a tool and die man for Jenn-Air Products. Dick’s passion was music. He played trumpet in bands in Martinsville, Greenwood, and Texas. He was also a skilled artist who loved painting, working with stained glass, pastels, woodworking, and even sculpting, having successfully restored the fountain at the Soldiers and Sailors Children’s Home by re-working fiberglass and re-casting. Dick was also a skilled craftsman. He designed and built his home for himself and his wife Marybeth where they spent several years of their life together. Dick was a devoted family man and a Christian. He was a member of Eastview Christian Church and spent much of his life traveling the world with Marybeth.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Elizabeth (Hunt) Van Hook who he married February 4, 1951; son, Richard Lee Van Hook, II and wife Charlene of Washington state; daughters, Karen Lynn Phillips and husband John of Mooresville, Marylee Maxwell and husband Kelly of Martinsville, Kimberly Kay Atnip and husband Bob of Westfield; sister, Mary Katherine Moody; 10 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ruth Ellen Bryant.

Private services for the family are Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at Costin Funeral Chapel.

Entombment with military and fire department honors will be at Nebo Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Eastview Christian Church, 2745 Old Morgantown Road, Martinsville, IN 46151 or to Camp Allendale, 4605 South Allendale Drive, Trafalgar, IN 46181.

SERVICES
Private Viewing

Tuesday, February 02, 2021

Costin Funeral Chapel
539 E Washington St.
Martinsville, Indiana 46151

Private Service

Tuesday, February 02, 2021

Costin Funeral Chapel
539 E Washington St.
Martinsville, Indiana 46151