Ronald Gene VanHook

Ronald Gene Van Hook was born June 14, 1935 in Bloomington, Indiana to Esther and Clyde Van Hook. He grew up in the grocery business helping out at the family grocery stores on West Fifth St. in Bloomington and Odon, Indiana. He attended Bloomington High School and Indiana University and worked for Day Funeral Home, Richard Reineking, CPA and managed an IGA store in Mitchell, Indiana. He worked in Contract Administration at Indiana University for a total of thirty-one years. After retirement he spent enjoyable years working in the tool department at Lowe’s and putting all of his newly purchased toys to work. Ron was active at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church serving as treasurer, finance chair and chair of trustees. When his children were teens he became active in Operation Friendship an International Youth Exchange program. He served as local chairperson, on the regional, national and international boards serving as Chair of the American National board for eight years. He traveled with groups of teens as their advisor in Sweden, Holland and Germany. His love of working with his hands and helping others led to his participation in mission trips to Henderson Settlement in KY and to Moscow in Russia as well as helping with construction of several Habitat houses in Bloomington and the rebuilding of the hurricane damaged pier at Camp Don Lee in North Carolina. In retirement he revived his earlier love of photography combining it with a great deal of travel. He loved spending time with his family especially recent trips to the NC beach. Ron is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jayma Sue Kurz. He is survived by his brother, James Robert Van Hook, his wife of nearly 57 years, Mary Jane Van Hook, his son Gregory Scott Van Hook (Kim), daughter Karen Van Hook McCain (Fred), granddaughters Elyse Lynn Van Hook and Brittany Rae Van Hook and his grandson, Grayson Patrick McCain and “grandson-in –love” Adam Smith, and loved nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, July 5, 2018 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Following the service there will be a gathering of family and friends at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark’s Operation Friendship Scholarship Fund or to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com