Clarence Hancock

Clarence Hancock, 94, life long resident of Raleigh County, died of natural causes on April 12, 2009. Clarence was well known in this area having served as assistant vice president and loan officer for the Beckley National Bank for many years prior to his retirement in 1980. It is fitting, and perhaps an honor, that Clarence died on Easter Sunday for he was an active Christian with multiple years of service as treasurer for the original Methodist Temple on S. Kanawha St. In more recent years, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Beckley. Known as a ‘gentleman and good man’, surely, God will treat Clarence kindly.
Clarence was born in Wyco on March 22, 1915, the eighth child of the late John Walter Hancock and Ovella Pearl Hall Hancock. His early years were formulated by this active family consisting of 8 brothers and 7 sisters who lived in Tams, WV. Clarence’s sister, Louise Burdiss of Beckley, the last born, is the only survivor from this large respected Hancock family. Louise became the devoted caregiver of Clarence after his health started to fail in 2006.
As a youth, Clarence was given access to Major Tams’ tennis courts. Clarence became a proficient tennis player, a sport that he loved and played until he was 55 years old. Graduating from Mark Twain High School in 1933, he considered Senator Robert C. Byrd a childhood and lifelong friend.
Clarence was a member of several civic organizations during his life time. He was active as a Gideon. He was a Master Mason of Beckley Lodge # 95 and a life member of the American Legion. Clarence served in World War II from 1943 through 1945 as a Staff Sergeant with the 71st Regiment of the 44th Infantry Division in the European theater of war.
Clarence’s first wife, Beulah Meador Hancock died in 1981. Clarence then married Opal Marie Richmond Williams who died in 1994. Opal’s son, Dr. Richard D. Richmond, Clarence’s step-son, and Richard’s wife Sallie, survive from Clarence’s marriage to Opal. Clarence will be remembered as a grandfather figure to Dr. Richmond’s children Elizabeth Erin Phillips of South Charleston and Jon Patton Richmond of Beckley. Clarence will also be missed by long-term friend Juanita Ford of Shady Spring.
Many Hancock family descendants mourn Clarence’s death including nieces: Nancy Lytton of Beckley, Tommy Jean Hoge of Roanoke, VA, Sybill Page of Dillon, SC, Ann Marie Hancock of Bronx, NY, Louise Burdiss’ daughter, Mary Jo James of Nitro, WV and 1st cousin Judy Hart of Beckley. Nephews: Randy Lamb of Bluefield, VA, Jim Lamb of Gilford, Conn, Phil Hancock of Beckley and Doug Hancock of Daytona Beach, FL. Nephews along with relatives Mack Hart of Beckley, Larry Croy of Princeton and David Hunter of Beckley will serve as pallbearers.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, April 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the Calfee Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Phil Smith officiating. Entombment will follow at the Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum, Beckley. Friends may call at the funeral one hour prior to the service.
On-line condolences may be left at www.calfeefh.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church, 422 Neville St, Beckley, or the United Methodist Temple, 3871 Robert C. Byrd Dr, Beckley.
Arrangement by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.