Herbert "Herb" Elmer Hooks, 92, of Lexington, North Carolina, returned to his eternal fishing grounds on October 28, 2024, joining his wife Ellen who preceded him in death in 2017. Born in the mountains of Pennsylvania near the Allegheny River, Herb was a lifelong fisherman whose adventures took him from mountain trout streams to coastal waters.
Herb served his country honorably in the United States Army from May 1953 to May 1955, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 397th Engineer Battalion during the final months of the Korean War. Prior to his service, he worked as a machine operator at National Tube Products in East Palestine, Ohio.
In 1969, Herb embarked on what would become one of his life's greatest adventures when he moved to Harker's Island, NC. There, he spent 25 years as a commercial fisherman. He chronicled the history and culture of Harker's Island in a series of newspaper articles for The Dispatch, preserving the heritage of this unique coastal community for future generations.
In 1989, Herb and Ellen moved to Lexington, where he continued his passion for fishing, turning his expertise to farm pond fishing. He was known for his engaging storytelling and his deep knowledge of both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
Herb was preceded in death by his wife of many years, Ellen Louise Mankin Hooks; daughter, Sandra Hartley; and granddaughter, Jeanette Miller. He is survived by his daughter Rebecca Miller and husband Steve of Franklin, Ohio; their children Andrew (Kristina) Miller and Aaron Miller; son-in-law Bruce Edward Hartley, Sr. and wife Cindy of Lexington; children Jackie (Benjamin) Beard, Bruce Edward (Rexana) Hartley, Jr., Audrey Hartley, Anthony (Kimberlee) Wilson, and Ashley Wilson; seven great-grandchildren: Tyler Beard, Bristia Hartley, Steven Miller, Maria Miller, Tiffany Floyd, Anthony Floyd, and Adrian Wilson, and one great-great grandchild, Averee Floyd. Herb is also survived by his fishing buddy, Hayden Edmonds, and his cherished friends, Zackary and Audrey Rhoades, along with their children, Calvin and Anna.
The family will receive friends from 12-1:30pm at Sechrest-Davis Funerals & Cremations, 18 Randolph Street Thomasville, NC 27360 on November 16, 2024. A graveside service with military honors will follow at Faith Chapel Community Cemetery at 2:00pm with Rev. Daniel Downing, officiating. The family is planning a celebration of life in the spring at Herb's favorite fishing grounds along the New River.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Davidson County, 200 Hospice Way, Lexington, NC 27292.
As Herb would say, borrowing from the wisdom of Harker's Island, "Believe nothing you hear or read and only believe half of what you see" - but believe all of the fish stories he told because those were the ones that mattered most.
