Shirley Ruth Van Hook was born on December 26, 1931 in Clifton New Jersey, the third child of Harry David Weenk and Sadie Vander Horn (second generation immigrants from Holland). Shirley had an older brother and sister, Herman and Elsie.
Shirley’s parents were deeply in love, but tragedy struck the family when Sadie died of cancer when Shirley was 12 years old.
Shirley was a remarkable young lady. She was a cheerleader in high school, on the gymnastics team, and an avid horseback rider. She also played the piano, wrote poetry , and even painted -- but her great love was the ocean, where she spent time fishing and crabbing with her father. She loved to go to the Jersey shore and sit under the boardwalk, gazing at the sea and writing poetry.
The Weenk family were members of the Christian Reformed Church where Shirley was baptized and made her confession of faith. It was also at the church that Shirley first saw Ray Van Hook, and told her father that she was going to marry him.
Ray and Shirley were married on October 7, 1950 and they moved to California where Ray served in the Air Force.
Ray and Shirley had 2 children -- Deneice Lynn and Raymond Derek.
Shirley was not content to stay at home while her husband was transferred around the world. She moved with her family to France in 1960 for 3 years, and then to Guam in 1966 for 4 years.
While in Guam, Shirley took up scuba diving. She became a certified Navy instructor, most likely the only women to hold that position at the time.
The Van Hooks retired from the Air Force in 1971 and moved to Homestead, Florida. This way, Shirley would be close to tropical reefs, and Ray could be near an Air Force base. It was then that Shirley opened the Cutler Ridge Dive Shop.
The only thing more dear to Shirley than her family and her diving was her faith in Jesus Christ. Ray and Shirley were founding members of Redlands Community Church, where Ray served as an Elder and Shirley did almost everything else.
Shirley was not satisfied to just sit in the pews. She lived out her faith by speaking about Jesus to everyone who ever spent much time with her, and often took in lost souls. Shirley was involved in mission work, both by going to Haiti and supporting the work of missions both financially and prayerfully.
Shirley passed into the arms of her Loving Savior July 17th, 2014.
Shirley is survived by her two children - Deneice and Ray Derek; Three grandchildren - Laura, Derek and Justin, and her Sister -in Law Carol Albright Weenk.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.6