Juanita Ruth Hancock

On Thursday, March 30th, 2023, Juanita Ruth Hancock, age 96, of Glendale, Arizona passed away peacefully while in hospice care. Family members were with her throughout hospice care and when she passed. Juanita was born on the family farm near Salem, Indiana on February 18, 1927 to Wilbur Ray and Mabel Chastain Stephenson. Juanita and her older siblings, Christina, Cleo and Lowell, spent a rural childhood learning the virtues of love of family, love of God, hard work, self-reliance and living the Golden Rule instilled by their parents. She met the love of her life, Dr. Robert Wilson Hancock, Sr, when he became friends with her brother Cleo following service with the Army Corp of Engineers. Robert was an adventurous, handsome, athletic young man who captured Juanita’s heart. They were married on March 9, 1946 in the living room of her childhood home with her father-in-law officiating. They shared sixty years together during which they lived daily their vows to have and hold, love and cherish, forsaking all others, for better or worse, until Robert’s death in December, 2005. During their life together, they primarily resided in Muncie, Indiana while Bob taught Latin and Spanish and Juanita served as the private secretary to the director of the Ball State University Health Center. Following retirement in 1984, they traveled extensively, eventually moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico and later Peoria, Arizona, where she was a registered member at Christ’s Church of the Valley (CCV). Now, Juanita and Bob are reunited for eternity. Also welcoming her in Heaven are infant sister Lorena, sister Christina Chastain (husband Mason), brothers Cleo (wife Garnelle), Lowell (wife Dorothy), daughter Lisa Kay Montaña (husband Ted), son John Lowell, and infant granddaughter Christina Michelle. She is survived by daughter Connie Bell (husband Donald) of Yorktown, Indiana, son William Ray Hancock (wife Rebecca) of Phoenix, Arizona, son Robert Wilson Hancock Jr. (wife Debra) of Las Cruces, New Mexico and grandchildren Thomas, Jennifer, Scott, Nathan, Daniel and Michael. She has eleven great-grandchildren and four great-great Grandchildren.

Juanita will be greatly missed by everyone who loved her and had the privilege of sharing in her life. She leaves us with a legacy of kindness, character, and a life well-lived.

A visitation for Juanita will be held Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Sunland Mausoleum Chapel, 15826 North Del Webb Blvd, Sun City, AZ 85351. A funeral service will occur Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 11:00 AM. A committal will occur Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 12:00 PM at Sunland Cemetery Garden of Peace, Sun City, AZ.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunlandmemorial.com for the Hancock family.