RICH SQUARE – Asil A. Hoke, age 93, slipped away to the Lord, May 28, 2015.

Born in East Rainelle, WV, Hoke, as everyone called him, grew up in the hills of West Virginia. The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hoke enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to Patuxent River Maryland Naval Air Station. While there, he became the only first class flight engineer in his C‐54 squadron. As an aircrew member, Hoke traveled the world hauling cargo and some pretty  important people.  His crew flew Admiral Halsey, Vice President Truman and others. Hoke was a crew member on the first C‐54 to fly nonstop from Honolulu, HI, to Los Angeles, CA. While on active duty, a Navy buddy, Porter Rock from Boykins, introduced Hoke to Lottie Parker. They were married soon after.

When he mustered out of the Navy in 1948, Hoke turned down a job as an aircraft mechanic for  Eastern Airlines in Washington, DC.  He later became a certified cabinet builder and was shop Foreman for Moonlight Enterprises. Hoke later retired from Mooring Woodworkers.

Hoke enjoyed watching the Redskins play and loved NC State, Northampton, and before them, Woodland‐Olney basketball. For 20 years, Hoke taught a young men’s Sunday School class at Potecasi Baptist Church and was on the Board of Deacons.

In true Southern fashion, Hoke liked to hunt, fish and work in his garden.  He never saw a bar‐b‐que  sandwich he didn’t like and never passed up a steamed oyster or a slice of old bacon ham.

Hoke is predeceased by his parents, William A. and Maggie C. Hoke; his wife Lottie P. Hoke; and his sister.

He is survived by his son, William “Bill” Hoke and his wife Judy of Eagle Point, Oregon, their son Charlie of Las Vegas, Nevada; nieces Clara Parker of Rich Square, North Carolina, Judy Mincher of Greensboro, North Carolina and nephew Glenn Futrell, of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.

A graveside celebration of life service will be held Sunday, May 31, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. at Potecasi Baptist Church Cemetery in Potecasi, NC, with the Rev. Bob Rogers officiating. The family will receive friends at the home of Clara Parker.

The family wants to thank Rich Square Health Care Center and other community friends who loved this funny, joking, and kind man they referred to as “Uncle Hoke” for the time and love you provided and gave him.

Memorial donations may be made to Potecasi Baptist Church, PO Box 134, Woodland, NC 27897.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service, Rich Square, NC, is handling the arrangements for the Hoke family and online condolences may be directed to them by visiting www.garrettsykesfs@gmail.com

Asil, we will see you on the other side. May you rest in peace.