Loyd Thomas Hoke Jr.

He was the son of the late Loyd and Frankie Hoke of lower Springs Road, Conover.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Dixie Little.

Loyd’s formal education began at Oxford Elementary School, Bunker Hill High School, from which he graduated, and he was a graduate of Lenoir Rhyne College with an AB Degree in English.

During his high school days, he joined the National Guard in Newton, NC, where he served for ten years. Loyd also wrote a column for the Hickory Daily Record.

In his years at Lenoir Rhyne College, Loyd met Sylvia Helton of Hickory. They married after their graduation at Lenoir Rhyne. Both graduated with degrees in English. They settled in Hickory where Loyd was employed at Belk Broome and St. Stephens High School. Loyd and Sylvia are the parents of Susan and her husband Robert who live in Bellingham, Washington with her family and Christopher and his wife Becky who lives in Ferguson, NC; two grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He is also survived by his siblings, Charlene Moore, Revonda Morrow (Arnie), and Johnny (Jack) Hoke (Gaye).

Both Loyd and Sylvia became teachers in Catawba County. Loyd taught Accelerated English at St. Stephens High School from freshman to seniors.

While serving as a teacher, Loyd and his students became interested in American Field Service Student Programs. With Loyd’s assistance, his students became involved with some going to various countries to study and provide homes for students coming to our country to study at St. Stephens.

Besides teaching, Loyd coached Cross Country and Track teams for several years. After his retirement, he was asked to coach Cross Country at Lenoir Rhyne. In Loyd’s twenty-seven years at St. Stephens and LR he received many awards. He led a very busy life after retirement. He served on the Board of Trusties for Catawba County Library. He assisted in selecting locations for libraries in the county and established a Friends of the Library, where they collected books to sell. He was a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church ELCA, he served as a teacher, choir member, volunteer for remodeling church facilities, and serving as councilman.

From these jobs, he worked with Habitat for Humanity for 15 years, he maintained gardens from which he sold vegetables from his home. He also worked on building clocks as a hobby and collecting rocks for possible gems and minerals. He also wrote a novel of historical fiction.

Also, during retirement, he and his wife, Sylvia, travelled to Washington and Canada, spent some weeks at Hilton Head, and travelled by bus tours to various areas in our country.

Loyd led a very productive life, until dementia became part of his life, which led to assisted living home until his death in Boone, NC at Glenbridge Health and Rehab.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Stephens Lutheran Church ELCA. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12:45 until 1:45 p.m. in the Chapel at the church. Rev. Michael Collins will officiate the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.