52 Ancestors : The Last of Her Generation
Yesterday was a sad day for my family. My grandfather’s last surviving sibling—Betty Jean (Hocker) Wingeard—passed away at the age of 90 years 4 months and 3 days.
Betty Jean Hocker, ca 1924-25
Betty Jean was born 3 November 1923 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She was the third daughter and fourth child (of five) of William Howard and Isabella Aitken (Smith) Hocker. She graduated from John Harris High School in 1941 and attended the Central Pennsylvania Business College.
On 24 April 1952, she was married by Reverend L. E. Barton at Epworth Methodist Church in Harrisburg to William Osbourne Wingeard Jr., son of William Osbourne and Edna May (Rudy) Wingeard. My great grandparents had concerns about Bill because he had been married and divorced previously, but Bill and Jean’s 46-year marriage was very happy. And Bill won the family over. Bill treasured Jean, calling her “the love of my live” in the blurb he wrote about her in his book on her ancestry, A German-American Hacker-Hocker Genealogy, which he also dedicated to her.
Betty Jean Hocker, Easter 1949
During their marriage, Bill and Jean lived in various locations around Harrisburg and for a time in Montoursville in Lycoming County. Bill worked for Pennsylvania Power & Light and Jean worked for a number of companies, including the YMCA, Allison Hill Trust Company, Market Street Trust Company, and the Dauphin County division of the American Cancer Society. She also volunteered with the Methodist churches they attended, Meals on Wheels, and the Divine Providence Hospital in Williamsport.
Bill and Jean never had children. But they always had time for and were interested in their nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. To me, they were another set of grandparents.
All of my best childhood memories include Bill and Jean. Every summer when I was a child, my sister and I would spend part of our vacation with Grandma and Grandpa in Harrisburg. Grandma always saw that we got enough to eat—more than enough, actually (Is that a Grandma thing?). When Jean was there it usually included hot dogs—Jean loved hot dogs. And potato chips. And ice cream. A perfect meal to us children. Those meals brought back childhood memories for Jean of going to her grandparents’ farm in the summer and eating hot dogs and ice cream and riding in the wagon into town for treats.
Jean Wingeard, 3 Nov 2013 (photo © Karen Hocker Photography)
During those summers, Grandpa kept us entertained, taking us fishing and playing cards. Bill and Jean would come over for lunch or supper and we’d play cards for hours. It didn’t matter what the game was, at some point Bill would throw down his cards and complain that Grandpa—rapscallion that he was—was cheating again. Jean would just shake her head, long accustomed to Grandpa’s tricks.
On several occasions my sister accompanied Bill, Jean, Grandma and Grandpa on one of their summer trips to the Jersey shore—something Grandpa and his sisters had also done with their Aunt Bess—aka Elizabeth Marian (Smith) Lutz.
Since Bill’s death in April 1998, Jean had faced a number of health challenges. She faced them all—no matter the severity—with a grace and dignity that was both inspiring and humbling. She wasn’t one to whine or bemoan the unfairness of life; she just quietly did what needed doing. “Kris,” she’d say, “it is what it is.” And she’d move on.
Family was important to Jean and she was important to her family. We love her and we’re going to miss her very much.
This post is part of an ongoing, blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small. Participants must write about one ancestor every week. This is my eleventh 52 Ancestors post and part of week ten.
Cite This Page:
Kris Hocker, "52 Ancestors : The Last of Her Generation," A Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy, the genealogy & family research site of Kris Hocker, modified 6 Apr 2014 (https://www.krishocker.com/52-ancestors-the-last-of-her-generation/ : accessed 2 Nov 2024).
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14 Replies to “52 Ancestors : The Last of Her Generation”
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[…] – “The Last of Her Generation” (Betty Jean (Hocker) Wingeard) by Kris Hocker on Kris Hocker’s […]
This is a lovely story. I didn’t know Bill and his lovely wife except through John “Jack” Hocker who helped with the book. You have a way of putting people in your memories, thank you for sharing this lovely woman with us. I didn’t know Bill had passed in April of 1998, my mother, Eva Jean Hocker Dean was battling cancer and lost in April of 1998. I was probably told but until now it didn’t set in. I am so appreciative of the work that Bill did in honor of your great Aunt, that in itself shows his love for her. And what a wonderful thing he did opening up this whole family for so many of us and now you, going back to make corrections and doing what you do. Again, thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you, Patty.
Bill was able to build on work commissioned by a prior generation—Opal (Luehrs) Hocker, I believe, wife of Krehl Samuel Hocker. I hope that I, too, am able to build on their work and leave a body of work that is at least as valuable to future generations.
~Kris
This is a WONDERFUL write up about a truly lovely woman. Bill was my grandfather’s cousin; I too was bitten by the genealogy bug and Bill was invaluable in getting me going! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to meet up and compare notes!
Thank you, Lisa.
I read Mr. Werner’s comments, particularly about “visiting his Grandfather” in Montoursville. While I was born and raised in Lancaster Co. I’ve lived near Woolrich, PA (10 miles North of Lock Haven) for the past 12 years. One day while doing a “Background Investigation” on an applicant for employment I parked along Broad Street to do paperwork and when I finished, I looked up and saw a sign saying “Hocker’s Veternary Clinic or something similar. I went inside hoping to speak with the Vet but he was not in the office and an employee said he was a life-long resident of Lycoming Co. This was the second Hocker I became aware of in Lycoming Co. I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman named Guy Hocker who lived near the village of Cammel along the Pine Creek. He died not long after that at 90-something years old.
Skip, there is a whole branch of the Hocker family that settled in Lycoming County in the early 1800s. Christopher Hocker, son of Johan “Hans” Adam Hacker, and brother to Martin Hocker, your ancestor, and Adam Hocker, my ancestor, left Harrisburg and settled near Williamsport by 1820. Guy Hocker was a descendant of this family, I believe (there were two men, cousins, named Guy from that branch).
My mom and brothers have done a lot of family research and I actually think my grandfather was bitten by the genealogy bug from my mom, Eileen as a member of the LDS church.
Very sorry to hear about your great aunt’s passing — she sounds like a wonderful person and an excellent example to the whole family. (And to the rest of us, too!)
Thank you, Melinda.
William “Bill” Wingeard was my grandfather. I was fortunate to spend many days at there home in Lawnton when I was young. We visited them and spent Thanksgiving while they lived in Montoursville and attended Christmas Eve services with them at their church. My grandfather was heavily involved in tracing his families genealogy and I am pleased to read your post. I spoke with Betty a few weeks ago and was surprised to hear of her passing as she seemed so upbeat when I spoke to her. Thoughts and prayers to your family.
James, thank you for the message. You grandfather was a wonderful man, always quick with a smile and kind word. He’s the reason I was bitten by the genealogy bug. I wish I’d come to it sooner so he would have had someone in the family to talk with who was as interested in it as he was.
Jean’s passing was relatively quick. She’d been in the hospital the week before, but had been released and gone home and was in good spirits. Unfortunately, she suffered a quick turnaround and went back into the hospital. While I’m saddened by our family’s loss, I’m glad she didn’t linger in ill health, unable to care for herself. I pray she’s reunited with all those she loved, especially Uncle Bill.
~Kris
This is a lovely tribute to your Grandaunt. She sounds like a wonderful person. My deepest sympathies to to you and your family for your loss.
Thank you. She was a lovely woman.