Joe Cook Hocking Sr

Joe Hocking..."Bro. Joe", 80, of Midwest City, OK passed away on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the Quality Care Hospice. Funeral service will be held Monday, November 3, at 2:00 at Bodine Baptist Church. Burial service will follow at the Sunny Lane Cemetery in Del City, OK.

Bro. Joe was born March 19, 1934 to Wallace and Mable Hocking in Dumas, Arkansas. The family moved to La Marque,TX in 1949. Bro. Joe later met his beautiful wife, Ruby Joyce Nix and they were married on October 15, 1953. They started a family which resulted in five children.

Bro. Joe Hocking surrendered to the ministry in 1958. He and Ruby graduated from Orthodox Baptist Institute in May of 1962. They then devoted the rest of their lives serving the Lord's church and winning souls to Christ. Their love for Christ was the center of their love for each other. Bro. Joe had a passion for learning. In addition to his seminary degree he received multiple graduate degrees from Oklahoma City University culminating in a Ph.D from the University of Oklahoma.

Bro. Joe's life exemplified a heart for Christ through his dedication and loyalty to his church and love for the lost. His gentle strength and quiet presence encouraged and influenced his children, extended family and those who crossed his path. Bro. Joe had the courage of David and the humility, leadership and wisdom of Paul. His compassion for those in need and consistent walk with the Lord impacted many lives throughout his ministry.

Remaining to remember his life are his wife, Ruby, his children: Sharon (Aaron) LeClaire, Oklahoma City, OK, Joe (Sara) Hocking, Wilmington, Delaware, Rebekah (Eric) Heath,Winner, South Dakota and David Hocking, Arlington, Texas; nine grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren, two sisters Modie Phillips, Anacoco, Louisiana, and Martha Moss, LaMarque, and one brother, Bobby Hocking (Patty), LaMarque, Texas, as well as many nieces and nephews, friends and church members.

Bro. Joe was preceded in death by son John Hocking, his parents, siblings, Wallace Junior Hocking, June Guillott, Mary Jane Tuck, and John Doyle Hocking.

"What a Day that will be when my Savior I will see". We are gathered here today to celebrate Bro. Joe's life and glorious homecoming. Dr. Joe C. Hocking was a devoted husband, dad, brother, uncle, grandpa, friend, neighbor, counselor, teacher, mentor, and pastor. Bro. Joe was a man of great faith! His two great loves were his church and his sweet wife Ruby J. with his greatest love being his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This love was ever present and reflected by his compassion and unconditional love for others.

As he fought through this final journey, his strength and faith in his Lord and Savior never faltered. He trusted fully in God's timing and wisdom to complete this journey. Another soldier is home.

Bro. Joe would say to us all...Hold Forth the Word of Life and Love one another as Christ loved us. Bro. Joe surely was a "Truest, Dearest Friend" to all who knew him.

Arrangements under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, Del City, Oklahoma.