Delbert Hartley Hooker

Delbert was born on April 9, 1932 in Pasadena, California. He grew up in Los Angeles with his mother and father Carrie and Alfred Reidell. He loved telling his daughters childhood stories which usually included jumping on a cable car which would take him wherever he wanted to go.

He worked in construction to earn money for seminary school and graduated from the Los Angeles Baptist College and Seminary. During that time, he married his sweetheart from high school, Bo Letta Colburn. They had 2 daughters Cheryl and Colleen. Soon after graduation they moved to Overland Park, Kansas to start a Baptist church. Delbert loved taking the high schoolers on an annual summer missionary trip to Mexico.

Shortly after, Delbert received his Doctorate Degree from Denver Seminary School. After many years of pastoring in Overland Park, Delbert and family moved to Denver to work at a church in Lakewood. During this time, he developed a passion for prison ministry and worked closely with the Prison Fellowship for years.

Bo Letta passed away in 2004 and Del married Inge Holmes in 2005. Del and Inge enjoyed traveling, going to art museums, and spending time with family. Over the years they welcomed many international guests into their home.

Delbert had a musical gift and played the guitar, banjo, piano, accordion and harmonica. When Del sat down at the piano the request was always for him to play Heavenly Sunshine. He used every key on that keyboard! He was also very proud that his 2 granddaughters loved music as much as he did and loved listening to Krista play the guitar and Kendra the cello.

Del was an avid reader and there wasn’t a history question that he could not answer! He enjoyed woodworking, bike riding, gardening, and antiquing. He also loved teddy bears and he had quite a collection throughout the years.

Del looked forward to his weekly Bible studies at St. Peters Lutheran Church and enjoyed every opportunity to play his guitar and preach. He continued his prison ministry and every week, regardless of the weather, he would drive over 200 miles round trip to Limon, CO to do a service with the prisoners. He said that giving up that ministry because of his age was one of the hardest things he ever had to do.

Del developed Parkinson’s and glaucoma. He gradually lost his eyesight and had difficulty walking. As the diseases progressed and he had to give up many of the activities he loved, he became an example to us all. He never complained but graciously accepted God’s will for his life.

He is survived by his wife Inge, his daughters Cheryl (Doug), and Colleen (Paul), and granddaughters Krista and Kendra and Inge’s family.