Dale Hockett's Obituary
Delta Dale Hockett, age 92, of Garland, Texas passed away on January 29, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. He was born on April 6, 1925 in Vickery, Texas to his parents, Edgar Earl Hockett and Leona Karr Hockett.Dale, or Buck his family nickname, was the youngest of four children-sister Earlene Velma “Lene”, brother Elmer Lee, “Pete”, and Troy Leonard “Mutt”.As he was proud to say, “I have been taking care of myself since I was 6”. Abandoned by his mother and subsequently by his father during the Great Depression, he was raised by his paternal grandparents, who put him to work milking cows on their dairy farm in Farmersville. Baptized in a pond at Merit by the local Baptist church, he remained a God-fearing Christian and was forever grateful to his grandparents. When he was 15 years old, he met his childhood sweetheart and future wife, Rosamond Maxine Prater.His defining moment in life was at 17 when he joined the Navy to fight in WWII. He served as a signalman on the submarine U.S.S. Tambor in the Pacific Arena of WW II. He always enjoyed telling his tales of seek and destroy missions, typhoons and shore leaves at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. He spent the last months of the war on the Tambor, which became a school boat. He stayed on to take the Tambor through the Panama Canal then on to New Hampshire for decommissioning.Upon his release from active duty, he married Rosamond in Dallas, Texas on January 15, 1945. They first lived in Port Angeles, Washington and then moved to Chicago, Illinois where he worked as a telegraph operator for the Union Pacific Railroad. After a couple of years in Chicago, Rosamond bought a beauty shop in Lewisville, and sent him to barber school to learn a profession. He first worked at the Lovers Lane Barber Shop in the Park Cities. Ultimately, he had his own barbershop, Kingsley Center Barbershop in Lake Highlands. He was fiercely independent and had an incredible work ethic. He enjoyed recounting tales of his notable customers, who would take him to lunch. He worked as a barber until age 85. Yet he even stayed busy in “retirement” – tending to his beef cattle, running his water company and being a landlord to trailer homes he leased.With the birth of their first child, Rose and Dale settled in Garland, Texas where he resided in the same home for 64 years. They had four children. He taught his children to drive a car and tractor, shoot a gun, ride a horse, raise and haul hay, and plant and harvest a garden. Dale enjoyed watching the news, listening to country western music, going to submarine veteran reunions, and playing dominoes. Dale travelled across the US from New York and Washington DC to San Francisco with stops in Galveston, Yellowstone, Alaska, Grand Canyon, Reno, Disney World, Disney Land, Miami, Boston, and the Grand Ole Opry. He also visited Mexico and Canada. He was always game for an adventure such as running on a beach, deep sea fishing, or hiking on the top of a glacier. In his mid-70’s, he went mountain biking and white water rafting. He was very proud of his children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s accomplishments. He enjoyed going to their ball games and graduations. Dale was always happy to have a guest and made you feel like a celebrity when you visited.Dale will be fondly remembered by his children- Sheri Hockett and Rhonda Dykes and their husbands David Campbell and Steve Dykes. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Jennifer Korman, Kyle Dykes, Courtney Campbell, Jonathan Campbell, Kacie Soto, Julia Ford, and Katie Dykes; 10 great-grandchildren: Willow Dykes, Sheridan Samade, Sadie Soto, Kason Soto, Jace Soto, Brayden Castillo, Aria Castillo, Mila Castillo, Annabelle Ford, Owen Ford, Charlotte Ford; his nephews David Zettler, Paul Zettler, and Milton Hockett; and his cousins, Ernestine Bailey and Waunell Leigh. With his passing, he will join his wife Rosamond, daughter Debra, son Tom, his parents, and his brothers and sister.
What’s your fondest memory of Dale?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dale?
Share a story where Dale's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dale you’ll never forget.
How did Dale make you smile?