John “Joe” Parker Hooker IV (80) of Barre, Vt., passed away on August 31, 2026, surrounded by his loving family and friends.

John was born on March 16, 1946, in Barre, VT., to John and Jeanette Hooker. In a family with no shortage of Johns, his younger sister began calling him “Joey,” which eventually became “Joe.” To his own family he remained Joe throughout his life, while everyone else knew him simple as John.

He graduated from Spaulding High School in 1964 and went on to study mechanical engineering at Wentworth Institute in Boston. After the death of his father, John returned home to help care for and support his mother and younger sister.

He served honorably in the United States Air Force from 1970 to 1974 where he trained as an Operating Room Specialist. He was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and USAF Hospital Wiesbaden in Germany. While at Wright-Patterson, he was recognized as Airman of the Quarter. Before completing his active-duty service he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

John met the love of his life, Cynthia “Cindy” Coxon, through Cindy’s twin sister and brother-in-law. Their social circle—known as “the Mutual Society for the Prevention of Boredom”—held an annual Halloween party, Cindy attended dressed as a pumpkin and John as a pirate. As the story goes, it was while dancing together that night that John knew she was the one. They married in 1976 and raised two children, neither knowing that one dance would be the beginning of nearly fifty years together.

John began his working career with Fred R. Holden Co. in 1965 and returned there following his military service. Over the years, he held a variety of positions in sales, service, and management, but spent much of his career in the building-supply and home-improvement industries. He worked for Allen Lumber Company for more than a decade, specializing in kitchen and bath design, and later joined F.W. Webb Company, where he worked in plumbing, heating, and HVAC sales until his retirement in 2011.

He believed strongly in giving his time to his community. He served for 15 years with the South Barre Volunteer Fire Department, including as its treasurer, and devoted nearly three decades to Scouting – one of his great passions. He believed deeply in Scouting’s ability to build character and positively shape the lives of young people. An active Scouting parent, he shared countless adventures with his son, from local campouts—sometimes as close to home as their own backyard—to Scout camps throughout New England, Gettysburg, and Florida Sea Base in the Keys. What began with Cub Scouts in the mid-1980s grew into nearly thirty years of service at the troop and district levels. John held numerous leadership positions, including Unit Commissioner and District Commissioner, and was recognized for his service with several honors, including the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award.

In recognition of their years of service to the community, John and Cindy were jointly honored with the Joint Service Clubs’ Community Service Recognition Award in 2012.

In his spare time, John enjoyed hunting on Roxbury Mountain—or, as his family affectionately called it, “taking the gun for a walk”—fishing, kayaking, and simply being outdoors. He always had a project underway, whether renovating the house, tinkering with tractors, or working on one of his many woodworking projects. John was a jokester who loved making people laugh and was always ready with a “dad joke” or two—or three. He also had a nickname for nearly everyone—his children, nieces and nephews, their friends, and countless others who became part of his life. Names like “Messy,” “Shorty,” “Hot Dog,” “Twinkle Toes,” and many more became part of the family vocabulary, often remembered decades later. For John, those nicknames were as much terms of affection as they were a source of amusement.

John is survived by his daughter Tammy Hooker, and son John Hooker and his wife Colleen; grandchildren Brienne and Daxton; 11 nieces and nephews; and countless honorary sons and daughters. He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Cynthia; his parents; and his sisters Jacqueline Swartz and Judith Safford.

A celebration of John’s life will take place Saturday, October 3, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Barre, Vt. with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for donations to the Barre Town Fire Department, P.O. Box 116, Websterville, VT 05678 or Boy Scouts of America Green Mountain Council, 838 US-2, Waterbury, VT 05676