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| "Van and his daughter on her wedding day" |
| My heart broke when I learned the news of Van's passing, he was a kind and gentle man who has felt like family to me since I began my quest of genealogy, in the summer of 2000 VanHoose, Castle, Daniels, Hounshell and Martin families was and still is my main focus. Van took me under his wing and helped me find the way, with the Van Hoose family, he sent me genealogy books, pics and family recipes. He is missed very much by me, and all who knew him. I know his home is now in heaven, and we will meet again! A special "Thank You to Van's Neice Teresa"for typing and sending this to me. |
| In Loving Memory of "Francis Marion "Van" Van Hoozer" Francis M. Van Hoozer HARKER HEIGHTS Services for retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 Francis Marion "Van" Van Hoozer, 61, will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Killeen with the Rev; Edwin Kagoo officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. Van Hoozer died April 5, 2002, at a Killeen hospital. He was born June 9, 1940, in Memphis, Tenn. Van Hoozer earned associate and bachelor's degrees in history and politics from the University of Maryland in 1973, a master's degree in education at Pepperdine University in 1975 and a master's degree in criminal justice from the American Technological Institute in 1978. He attended Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984 and McLennan Community College in 1990. Van Hoozer served in the U.S. Army for 21 years. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was a military intelligence interrogator assigned to Special Forces in Vietnam and Laos. He retired July 1, 1979, with an honorable discharge. He was a Green Beret in Vietnam. Van Hoozer received the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal with clasp and three loops, Meritorious Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, Parachutist Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, Republic of Vietnam Staff Service Honor Medal, first class, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars and Taiwan Parachutist Badge. Van Hoozer received several civil awards including the Achievement Medal for Civil Service, the Commander's Award for Civil Service and Exceptional Performance awards from 1984 to 1992. Van Hoozer was employed as a GS-12 as an education services specialist at Fort Hood at the East Education Center and as the commandant of the III Corps Headquarters Troop School. He was employed as an officer with the Bell County Adult Probation Department for two years. He was a drug and alcohol counselor with the Department of Defense for two years and director of Army Emergency Relief at Fort Hood for four years. Van Hoozer was the membership chairman and Associated Member of the Year for Special Forces Chapter 77. He was a member of Kappa Delta PI, Amateur' Softball Association of Texas and America. He was an umpire and referee with Killeen and Harker Heights Parks and Recreation, a member of the Texas Corrections Association and Texas Probation Association. Van Hoozer had lived in the community since 1977. Survivors include his wife, Suk C. Van Hoozer of Harker Heights; one son, George "Ray" Van Hoozer of Harker Heights; one daughter, Nancy Margaret Portis of Fort Worth; one brother, Ernest Steward Van Hoozer of Pulaski, Tenn.; and four grandchildren. Van Hoozer was preceded in death by his parents, George and Helen Van Hoozer, and one sister, Nancy Turner. The family will receive visitors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen with a rosary being recited at 7 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Special Forces Association. |
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