HANCOCK, Harold E.

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Monday, October 11, 2010 Harold “Hal” E. Hancock peacefully departed this life into the hands of God at Hospice of Havasu Polidori House in Lake Havasu City Oct. 8, 2010. Hal was born in Omaha, Neb., to Lynn and Adeline on Jan. 25, 1919, where he grew up and attended school. He was drafted in 1941 into the Army Air Corps and was sent to Cryptography School. Upon completion, he was sent to China, Burma and India during World War II where he deciphered messages in secret code. He returned home in 1945 and attended the University of Nebraska-Omaha and worked in the heating and air-conditioning business. During the Korean conflict, he was recalled to active duty and remained in the Air Force for 30 years. He served in Vietnam 1969–1970. During his 30 years in the Air Force, his family accompanied him to Japan, Turkey, Germany and bases in Florida, California and Lowry AFB in Colorado, where he retired in 1975. The family moved to Lake Havasu City in 1991. Hal was a master mason and a member of the VFW, American Legion and the Air Force Sergeant Association. Hal really enjoyed the friends he made playing softball, bowling, golfing and going to the Golden Nugget for brunch. Hal loved entertaining his family and friends by playing his Wurlitzer Juke Box with 5,000 45s. Through the years, he adored his dogs, Toby, Rags, Winnie and Candi. He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Charlotte; daughter, Suzanne, of San Francisco, Calif.; sons, Robert, of Omaha, Neb., Rodney and his wife, Sheri, of Urunga, Australia, and Harold II and his wife, Becky, of Prescott; grandchildren, Mindy and her husband, Ben, of Lakewood, Colo., Jill and her husband, Pat, of Omaha, Neb., Shelley, of Texas, Georgia, Tyler and Boyd, of Urunga, Australia, and Marty and his wife, Wendy, of Yuma; great-grandchildren, Brooke, of Lakewood, Colo., Jacob, Logan and Sophia, of Omaha, Neb., and Nakiya and Brynli, of Texas; his loving sister, Shirley, of Lake Havasu City; and brother, Loren and his Twila, of Lake Havasu City; and many considerate nieces and nephews. Hal was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be missed very much by his family and friends and his many military friends who he kept in contact with throughout his life. Donations may be made in Hal’s name to Hospice of Havasu Polidori House, where he received compassionate care. A viewing will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Lietz-Fraze Chapel. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, at Lietz-Fraze Chapel, followed by a military burial at Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens. Join the family in a celebration of Hal’s life at the VFW immediately following the graveside ceremony until 6 p.m. Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.