Helen Marie Hocker

August 19, 1915 - January 23, 2004 Helen Marie Hocker was born August 19, 1915, the first child of Jesse Benjamin and Anna Shipley Hocker, near Archie, MO, in Cass County. She attended rural Oak Grove School and Jr. and Senior High School at the Training School in Warrensburg, MO. Ms. Hocker completed a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Central Missouri State in 1937. She continued her education and received a Master of Arts degree in 1943, from North Colorado University. She continued her graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, the University of Oslo, Norway and the University of Southern California. Ms. Hocker was retired chairperson and Professor Emerita of the department of health, physical education and recreation at Washburn University, Topeka, KS. Over her 45+ years of professional experience, Helen had gained national prominence in the fields of education and health. For numerous years, she had served many Topeka community organizations in leadership roles including the YMCA, Topeka Recreation Commission, Topeka Welfare Planning Council and the Topeka Intercultural Council. In 1982, the Helen Hocker Performing Arts Center in Topeka was dedicated in recognition of her many contributions over the years. In 1997, she was honored by Central Missouri State as a Distinguished Alumna. She began her educational career in Knob Noster High School, Knob Noster, MO, and also taught at Holton High School, Holton, KS, and in the Topeka public School district before joining the faculty at Washburn University. In 1951, she received a Fulbright grant to teach in the Netherlands. In addition to her work in the Topeka community, Helen had been involved in a variety of state, regional and national concerns and organizations. She had served as a member of the International Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, the American Association of University Professors, as well as numerous other organizations. She was past president of the Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Her professional memberships included: AAUW, Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, Cheley Foundation, Delta Kappa Gamma, Golden City Forum, Helen Hocker Center for Performing Arts, International Center of Topeka, Inc., Kansas Retired Teacher's Association, Topeka Civic Theatre Academy, Topeka Parks & Recreation, Topeka Symphony, YMCA, Zonta Club of Topeka. She retired from her position as Professor at Washburn University in 1981. Since that time, she remained very active in many organizations until her health would not permit it. Since a stroke in August 2000, she had been in recovery at Brewster Place. She is survived by cousins and a host of friends. On February 20, 2001, the Topeka Symphony Board voted unanimously to confer her to Honorary Board Member Status for her service to the orchestra. On June 16, 2003, she received her last public service honor by the Topeka Parks and Recreation. A funeral service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2004, at the Klasse Chapel at First United Methodist Church. A graveside service will be 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Sharon Cemetery near Drexel, MO. Ms. Hocker's body will lie in state from 1-9 p.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. The family will receive friends one half hour prior to service time in the celebration room at First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hocker-Shipley Scholarship, Washburn University, Topeka, KS, or the Hocker-Shipley Scholarship, Central Missouri State University Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093-5226.