Constance "Connie" Hurlocker

Constance "Connie" Hurlocker

Constance "Connie" R. Hurlocker, 84, of Salisbury, N.C., died peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Connie was the daughter of the late Clarence Rickmond and Theda Kluttz Rickmond. In addition to her parents, Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Hurlocker and sister, Theda (TK) Lineberger.

Connie's is a story that starts and ends in Salisbury. Connie was raised in Salisbury, N.C., and graduated from Lenoir Rhyne College in 1961, with a BS degree. It was during college that she met her handsome groom of 61 years, Thomas Hurlocker. After college, Connie and Tom moved to Pennsylvania. Connie started teaching in 1971 in Carlisle, Pa., and she received her Master's degree in Special Education in 1974. Connie had a long and very rewarding career teaching special needs students in the Carlisle area before retiring in 1996.

Tom and Connie raised their children, Eric and Tamara, in Carlisle and made many wonderful and lasting friendships during their 35 years there. They loved to travel and were frequently on the road during their time in Carlisle. Connie enjoyed golfing in Carlisle and rumor has it there was a hole-in-one at some point. When not traveling or golfing, Connie was the ultimate hostess and she loved to entertain friends in their home. To be sure, there was usually a glass of wine around.

Tom retired a few years after Connie, and they decided to relocate to North Carolina. First, they moved to Hendersonville, N.C., where they quickly found another group of fabulous friends. The Hurlockers were members of Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville.

Connie's final move was back to her hometown, and it was a great one. They moved to the supportive community at Trinity Oaks, a Continuing Care Retirement Community. It was widely known that at 4 p.m. most afternoons, friends at Trinity Oaks could stop in at Connie's for wine down and have a glass or two. While back home in Salisbury, Connie continued to enjoy traveling and the opportunity to visit with her four beloved grandchildren. Connie was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Salisbury. She particularly loved singing in the church choir.

Connie is survived by two children, Eric Hurlocker and his wife, Andi of Richmond, Va., and Tamara Eller and her husband, Trip of Concord, N.C.; one bonus daughter, Ann Rumberger Hoffman and her husband, Larry; four grandchildren, Cassie Peele and her spouse, Jasper Sterling, Jay Hurlocker, Emily Peele, and Layne Hurlocker; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

The family is grateful for the compassionate care given to Connie by Dr. Chet Amin, the staff at Trinity Oaks, and Novant Health Hospice, all in Salisbury, N.C.

A memorial service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Salisbury at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 10, 2025, followed by a reception at Trinity Oaks. An online memorial register is available at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church General Fund (https://app.onechurchsoftware.com/stjsalisbury/egiving) or Lutheran Services Carolinas (https://lscarolinas.net/donate-onetime/).