John Alden Hancher

 1. Nicholas Hancher (1705-1777) m Rebecca Smith (c1707-?)
 2.. John Hancher (1734-1793) m Sarah Caudy (1739-1807)
 3... William Hancher  m Ann Dunn (c1756-?)
 4.... John Hancher (1796-1853) m Nancy Ann O'Rourke (1807-1882)
 5..... Thomas J. Hancher (1836-1919) m Fanny Jane Winkler (c1842-1920)
 6...... Emery Hancher (1864-1953) m Clara Augusta Ladd (1887-1946)
 7....... John Alden Hancher (1916-2006)
          +Louise Beattie (?-1967)
 8........  Thomas Beattie Hancher (1946-) 1
          +Mary Saladino Sparrow (?-1992)
John Alden Hancher     [ID 19476] Click here to switch to Ancestror Tree view: Tree View

Born Jan 5 1916, El Campo, Wharton County, Texas.2,3  

He married Louise Beattie.2  

Louise died Sep 14 1967, Colorado County, Texas.4  (Sep 4 1967).2  

He then married Mary Saladino Sparrow, Sep - 1968.2  

Mary died Nov 22 1992, Colorado County, Texas.2,4  

John Alden Hancher died Dec 30 2006, River Oaks Health Care Center, Columbus, Texas; age 90.2  

John's obituary was published in the "El Campo Leader-News" (El Campo, Texas) on January 10, 2007:2

John Hancher

Funeral Services were held Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. at Henneke Funeral Home for John Alden Hancher who died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 at River Oaks Health Care Center in Columbus.  Burial followed in Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus.  He was 90 years old at the time of his death.  

John A. Hancher was born on Jan. 5, 1916 in El Campo to Clara Ladd and E. Grant Hancher.  He attended El Campo Independent School District, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas in Austin and graduated from The University of Texas School of Law in 1940.  He was admitted to the Texas State Bar that same year.  

On Aug. 4, 1941, John enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Winnipeg, Canada.  He was stationed in England as a pilot with the R.C.A.F. on Oct. 30, 1942.  He transferred to the U.S. Army VIII Air Force Bomber Command in London, England on March 24, 1943 when the United States entered the WWII arena.  There he flew B-17 Bombers on missions over France and Germany.  While stationed in England, he met and married Louise Beattie, an army nurse from Watertown, New York.  John was discharged from the service on Aug. 8, 1945.  

He and Louise returned to Texas and came to Columbus where John began his law practice.  John practiced as sole practitioner from mid-1945 until shortly before his death.  Louise and John had a son, Thomas Beattie, on May 22, 1946.  Louise died on Sept. 4, 1967.  In Sept. 1968, John married Mary Saladino Sparrow.  On Nov. 22, 1992 Mary preceded John in death.  

John served as Colorado County Judge in Columbus from 1948 through 1954.  John was a member of the Colorado County Bar Association and served as their president in the 1950's.  He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Columbus Community Hospital and President of the Columbus Rotary Club.  He was also a member of the State Bar of Texas, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Post # 6113 and the American Legion.  He served as the Veterans Service Officer for over fifty years.  

John was an avid fisherman and hunter.  He made many annual trips to Colorado and local gravel pits in Colorado County to fish and enjoyed hunting with his friends.  He was also a voracious reader, particularly books of historical significance.  

John was preceded in death by his parents, Clara Ladd and E. Grant Hancher; his only brother, Ladd Hancher; his first wife Louise Hancher; his second wife Mary Hancher.  

He is survived by his only son, Thomas Beattie Hancher M.D. and wife, Christine of Columbus; and grandchildren, Heather Hancher Thomas and husband Ryan Thomas of Houston, Shannon Hancher M.D. and husband Nicholas Hodges of Bellaire, and Blake Hancher of Austin.  John is also survived by his step-children, Judy Peabody and husband Jim Peabody of Belgium, Nancy Miller and husband Stephen Miller of Weslaco, Marianne Sparrow of Harlingen, Chip Sparrow and wife Sandy of Mercedes, Susan Schwarz and husband Brad Schwarz of Weslaco, Scott Sparrow and wife Kathy Sparrow of Arroyo City; and grandchildren, Ryan Schwarz, Meredith Schwarz, Jenny Schwarz, Alyssa Miller, Andrea Miller, Brandon Miller, Ashley Miller, Ryan Sparrow, Shana and Peter Prata, Aimee Sparrow and Spencer Sparrow.  He has two great-grandchildren, Tyler Alden Thomas and Sage Christine Thomas; and a sister-in-law, Katherine Hancher of Columbus.  

Pallbearers included Blake Hancher, Ryan Thomas, Nicholas Hodges, Jim Peabody, Bill Allison and Gary Braun.  

Honorary Pallbearers included Phil Gates, Chris Stein, Bub Baumgart, Alan Hill, John Massey, Jimmy Seymour, Nat Goodwin, Manly Leyendecker, Marshall Windham and Delmar Fehrenkamp.  

Memorials may be given to the Columbus Community Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 865, Columbus, TX 78934.


Sources

  1. Obituary of John Alden Hancher.
  2. Obituary of John Alden Hancher; "El Campo Leader-News", Jan 10 2007;
    "United States Obituary Collection", http://www.ancestry.com.
  3. 1930 census, El Campo, Wharton County, Texas; roll T626-2408, ED 12, page 14A, line #43, dwelling #229, family #348.
  4. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000; http://www.ancestry.com.


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