Albert William "Cork(y), Van, Al, Big Al, VO, Papa" VanOcker

Albert William VanOcker also known as 'Cork(y)' (family), Van, Al, Big Al, VO and most of all Papa of Owings, Maryland, passed away at 87 years old on January 19, 2026; 11 days shy of turning 88 years old. He was born on January 30, 1938, in North Tonawanda, New York, one of nine children of Esther Margaret (Fitzgerald) and Edwin Tyler VanOcker. Albert grew up in the suburbs of Buffalo and attended Arcade Central in Caldwell Corners. As a teenager he worked a lot and loved to sing. In high school he continued to sing and earned an 'A' monogram in chorus. He went out for the football team but shared that he sat the bench so he decided "I was done!" He went out for the wrestling team and lost all the matches the first year, won a few matches the following year then "won all matches until I left school." During high school he worked at the Sweet Shop, a shoe store, a grocery store and summers working on houses.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957 at the age of 19. Albert had always wanted to fly until he learned he was colorblind (deficient), he never gave it another thought after that.

During his military service, he met Air Force Captain Betty Louise Allison at an Officers Club where he "thought that she was so pretty and I didn't want to be without her" and they married in 1962 at a ceremony officiated by her Uncle Reverend Paul Sheehan at the Children's Home in Turbeville, S.C.

Albert's continued assignments over the course of his military career took him to Keflavík, Iceland, Turner Air Force Base in Albany, Georgia, and Sembach Air Force Base in Germany, Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, Byrd Field Air Base in Virginia, the Pentagon, and Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He earned numerous ribbons, medals, oak leaf clusters and awards for meritorious service during his military career. He attended Trident Technical College in 1976. He retired in 1982 as a computer programmer having attained the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.

Albert immediately reported to Potomac High School in Maryland to teach AFROTC for a year before he entered the Federal Government for a second career continuing his computer programming and top secret operations. After 24 years of federal service he retired in September of 2006.

In addition to his full time job, in 1983 he joined the Capital Centre in Landover MD, now the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. where he worked part time for over 30 years. He worked anything and almost everything; primarily concerts and sporting events as event staff and security on both the Wizards and Capitals locker rooms as well as the Officials locker rooms. He remembered most meeting Bill Cosby, Michael Jordan, Bruce 'Springboard', Pavorotti and former President Nixon but working the inaugurations of Presidents Regan, Bush, and Clinton was his joy before retiring to Southern Maryland.

In October of 2006 he also picked up another part time gig as a courier for Dunbar Armored, Inc. escorting material assets all over the United States. He really loved the importance of this job and hated giving it up, but after 13 years he retired from this parttime gig in December of 2019 to be there for his family more.

He liked to keep busy when at home and could be found meticulously tending to his house and yard or tinkering with his many DIY projects, genealogy was a passion and skiing, cruising and traveling over the years making memories with his girls gave him joy. He was an amazing listener, a loyal and hardworking professional ("I was always good at my work, ALWAYS!"). He was a kind man of his word, he (mostly) kept his opinions and feelings to himself and would do anything for anyone! His girls kept him active and on the go. He ran his first marathon in October 2004 at the age of 66 and another in February 2005 at the age of 67.

Albert is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Allison VanOcker; his daughters Allison VanOcker, and Rebecca VanOcker; siblings Gerald, Terrill, and Doug VanOcker. He was preceded in death by his son, Gary (48); his parents, Edwin (69) and Esther VanOcker (101); siblings Margaret (92), Edwin (79), Raymond (75), Jim (81), and Rhonda (61).

Sending you off with one of your favorites; Ave Maria, song by Franz Schubert.