Kenneth Ray Van Hook Sr.

Funeral services for Kenneth Ray Van Hook Sr., 67, of Onalaska, Texas, will be held Friday, September 9, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. in the Central Baptist Church in Livingston, Texas with Bro. Mike Meadows officiating. Interment will follow in the Magnolia Cemetery in Onalaska, Texas. Visitation will be held Thursday, September 8, 2016 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Central Baptist Church in Livingston, Texas.

Mr. Van Hook was born September 3, 1949 in Akron, Ohio to parents, Kenneth Coy Van Hook and Mary Evelyn (Adams) Van Hook, and passed away September 3, 2016 in Onalaska, Texas. He is preceded in death by his father. During his life, Kenneth was an Eagle Scout and had received the God and Country Award. Ken started his work career with Massey Ferguson as a Quality Assurance Supervisor in 1968 and moved on to Baker Material Handling in the same capacity in 1979. In 1981 Ken started with Mitsubishi International Corp as a Product Safety Standards Engineering Manager. This is where Ken dedicated 25 years to the material handling industry and the corresponding safety standards. Ken was one of the key managers for the startup of MDI a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp. and managed the Product Support and Service Engineering Divisions. In 1992 the joint venture of Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc was started and Ken continued his work in managing the Product Safety Standards and Product Liability Litigations. Ken served on the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) for 35 years, devoting his leadership in the development of industrial recommended practices and standards dealing with forklift safety. He served on numerous committees with ITA, ANSI, NFPA, and many others for the purpose of improving safety practices and standards. Ken retired in 2005 but continued working at his company Safe-T-Source Inc. and in 2006 started Safe-T-Consultants for Material Handling and Construction Equipment. His many major accomplishments and his commitment to the material handling industry gained him recognition from his peers, associates and the legal field.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Van Hook of Onalaska, Texas; ; sons, Kenny Van Hook and Laura, of Jacksonville, Florida, and John Van Hook and Michelle of Kingwood, Texas; daughters, Jennifer Monday of Port Charlotte, Florida, Kelly Vrba of Akron, Ohio, Kimberly Burton and Brian of Dallas, Texas, Robin Rickel and Scott of San Diego, California, and Lori Lester and Scott of Porter, Texas; grandchildren, Alexis and Samie Van Hook both of Kingwood, Texas, Allyson, Emily, and Matthew Van Hook all of Jacksonville, Florida, Juliana Vrba of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Lauren and Hailey Rickel both of San Diego, California, Corey Lester of Porter, Texas, and Sarah Lester of Huntsville, Texas; great-grandson, Adam Thompson of Huntsville, Texas; mother, Mary Evelyn Van Hook of Akron, Ohio; sisters, Diana Doerr and Fred of Boston Heights, Ohio and Cindy Wilt and Denny of Ellet, Ohio; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers: Kenny Van Hook, John Van Hook, Matthew Van Hook, Fred Doerr, Ron Ledbetter, Greg Sammon, Mike Veillette, and Chuck Shepherd.

 

Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com.