William Patterson Hooker, age 92, went to be with the Lord October 19, 2019 at Collierville Baptist Hospital. William (Bill) was the son of Newt and Ethel Hooker of Eads TN, dec’d. He was married to Myra F Turner Hooker, of Trenton TN for 67 years, she passed away in 2015. He was also the brother of Betty Carpenter who lives in Savannah TN and Oneida Orders, Cordova, dec’d.
Bill Hooker is survived by his four daughters: Linda Woodward (Jim) Birmingham, AL, Jean Penney (Jerre) Huntsville, AL, Jeanette Lee (Ed) Nashville, TN and Diane Callahan Nashville, TN. He also leaves seven grandchildren: Ginger Liles, Steve Woodward, John Lee, Courtney Allen, Brent Lee, Zack Penney, and Brittany McCall and 10 great grandchildren: Penney and Parks Liles, Colin and Piper Woodward, Jane Claire and John Hudson Lee, Gaines and Ruby Penney, Harper Allen, Logan McCall and Nolen Lee.
Bill was born in 1927 in Memphis TN. He spent most of his childhood on a farm working and riding horses and graduated from Collierville High School where he played on the high school football team.
He then joined the military and at 18 years old, graduated from the Army Officer Candidate School as the youngest person ever to do so. He also graduated from the University of Omaha, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. Bill attained the rank of full colonel and spent 32 years traveling the world and serving with honor. He received numerous awards including the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal/2OLC and the Bronze Star. He served as Commander of Pueblo Army Depot and Commander of the Taiwan Material Agency.
Bill and Myra, raised four daughters as they were stationed around the world including Japan, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, Nebraska, Kansas, Iran, Colorado and Taiwan. In1975, Bill retired and he and Myra returned to the Cordova/Collierville area to be with family and enjoy the area they cherished. Bill loved being a member of the community and sharing area history with family and friends. He loved gardening and enjoyed many years of quiet pleasure working in his beautiful garden.
Bill was a member of the Cordova Baptist Church for 40 years and served as a Deacon and taught Sunday school. In 2015, he became a member of the Covenant Baptist Church. Bill had a strong Christian faith and enjoyed sharing his beliefs with family and friends. For over 40 years, Bill gave the sermons at the annual Hooker family Easter gathering. He also honored the requests of four of his grandchildren by officiating their weddings. Bill often expressed how blessed he felt watching the Christian faith grow within his family as new members were added.
Having traveled to over 60 countries, Bill remained an intrepid traveler well into his eighties. Always fascinated with different cultures around the world, he was an avid student of history and geopolitics and greatly influenced the love of those subjects within his family. He kept abreast of politics and was always up for a passionate discussion of the current political landscape.
For the last four years, Bill lived at Hearthside Assisted Living and enjoyed socializing and many intense afternoon poker games. Bill had an easy way with people and friends found his smile and barrel laugh infectious. He had a great sense of humor and always enjoyed a funny story.
He was a devoted husband and father who loved his church, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bill will be remembered for his strong Christian faith, quiet strength, love of laughter, discipline, honor and strong sense of duty. Bill was much loved and will be greatly missed by many friends and family.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colliervillefuneral.com for the Hooker family.
