William Charles Hancock, U.S. Navy retiree

Commander William Charles Hancock, U.S. Navy (Ret.), 79, of Lewes, passed away at his home Sunday, May 14, 2023. He was born April 24, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minn., son of the late Paul Raymond and Muriel Virginia (Sampson) Hancock.

William graduated from Hopkins Senior High School Class of 1962. He continued his studies, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1966. He later obtained a master’s degree in communications, at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. William enjoyed a lengthy career as a surface warfare officer, retiring in 1987 after serving for 21 years. He later worked as an IT program manager consulting for the federal government until his retirement from the workforce. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed sailing, camping and gardening. William was a devoted Eagle Scout and achieved the Order of the Arrow. What he cherished most, however, was time spent with those he held most dear. Loved by all who knew him, he will be forever missed.

William is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia Hancock of Lewes; his children, Derrick Hancock (Gretchen) of Newtown, Conn., Anneliese Lohmeyer (Robert) of Ashburn, Va., and Nicole Reeves (Jason) of Ashburn; his granddaughters, Jordan and Abby Lohmeyer, Caroline Hancock, Lily and Emily Reeves; and his grandsons, Tyler Lohmeyer and Declan Reeves.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 25, at St. John Neumann Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, Va.

Final care for William has been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in William’s memory to the Parkinson's Foundation, parkinson.org/?utmor; or a charity of choice.

Visit William's Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.