Walter Clarence VanHook, 88, of Norfolk, Virginia passed away on Thursday, June 23. Clarence was born on July 14, 1922 near Bahama in Durham County, NC. He was the son of Herdean VanHook and Hattie Mae McMannon VanHook. After the untimely death of his mother, Clarence was raised by his uncle and aunt, Walter and Annie Evans. The Evans family had such an influence on Clarence, his sister Blanche, and his brother Bennie that they called them "Papa Walter" and "Mama Annie." These three children were raised along with the Evans children, Samuel and Mary.
At an early age, Clarence gave his life to Jesus Christ and became a member of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.
After attending two "Rosenwald" elementary schools near Bahama, he graduated from Little River High School in 1942.
He enrolled in the Cortez Peters Business College in Washington, DC, but, in January of 1943, Clarence was drafted into the US Army and served in France during World War II.
At the end of the war, he returned to Durham and married the former Gladys Fowler. To this union, two children were born.
He attended North Carolina College for Negroes in Durham and graduated with a degree in commerce in 1949.
He moved to Norfolk in the mid-1950s. He had a pioneering 30-year career as the first African-American to serve in the Norfolk Naval Air Base Accounting and Disbursing Office.
After his retirement from civil service, Clarence operated Classic Contracting Company and provided licensed home improvements in the Tidewater area.
He was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Norfolk and he was involved in numerous religious and civic groups in that city,.
While in retirement, Clarence took special pride in taking daily walks to remove any trace of litter in his neighborhood. In performing this voluntary task, he made friends with almost all of his neighbors. He also used these walks to share the history of the neighborhood, which is near Norfolk State University. Some of the residents on his street referred to him as the "Mayor of Mapole Avenue."
He keenly monitored the football and basketball seasons of the colleges in the CIAA, the MEAC, and other conferences across the South. He could readily quote the names of coaches, players, and the athletic exploits of these colleges during the past 50 years.
Clarence is survived by his son, Otto W. VanHook, and his daughter, Harriette VanHook Davis (Eddie), of Durham. He has two grandchildren, Christopher Taylor (Ketha) of Rolesville, NC and Jessica Taylor Williams (Glenn) of Houston, Texas. He has three great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends.
Funeral services for Walter Clarence VanHook will be held on Wednesday, June 29 at 1:00 p.m. at the Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Bahama, with the Rev. Dr. James W. Smith officiating. A visitation will be held at the Holloway Memorial Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 28 from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m.