Robert Lee Hancock was born on the family farm on Ebey’s Prairie near Coupeville on June 19, 1918. He died there on Aug. 12, 2007.

Bob worked on the farm and attended the Coupeville schools, graduating from Coupeville High School in 1935. He attended Washington State University and then the University of Washington, where he rowed first stroke for the freshmen crew. He returned to Coupeville to farm with his father, Justus Hancock.

He married Agnes Sloth in 1940, and at the time of his death they had been married for almost 67 years. Bob began driving truck for Libbey Construction, owned by his nephew, Wayne Libbey, in 1964, and later worked for Marine Asphalt until his retirement in 1983. He then resumed farming, and worked for Engle Farms until the age of 87.

Bob was an active member of the Coupeville United Methodist Church where he held every office in the church at one time or another and sang in the church choir for many years. Before moving to the family farmhouse where he lived until his death, he and Agnes lived for a few years in Coupeville. During this time, he served on the Coupeville Town Council and the volunteer fire department. He was instrumental in purchasing and moving the Coupeville Recreation Hall from eastern Washington to its current location in Coupeville.

Bob was a long-time member of the Coupeville Lions Club, and bowled for many years in a league at Ebey Bowl in Coupeville, winning a singles title and a doubles title with Edwin Sherman.

Bob was a strong, soft-spoken, witty, and highly intelligent man who enjoyed sports and family life. He was a loving husband and father and commanded the respect of all who knew him because of his honesty, strength of character, and moral rectitude.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife Agnes, daughter Carolyn and her husband Deane Brazas of Anacortes, son Alan Hancock and his wife Elizabeth of Coupeville, and daughter Cheri Star and her husband Jim Reiser of Gig Harbor. He is survived by five grandchildren, Jennifer Brazas Davies, Benjamin Hancock, Emily Hancock, Kristen Star, and Ryan Star.

He was preceded in death by his pioneering grandparents, Ernest and Julia Hancock, his parents, Justus and Ruby Hancock, his sister, Ethel Libbey, his oldest son, Curtis Hancock, and his granddaughter, Amanda Brazas.

Memorials may be made to the Coupeville United Methodist Church.

Graveside services will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery on Sunday, Aug. 19, at 4 p.m., with the Rev. Jin Ming Ma presiding. A reception will follow at 5 p.m. at the Coupeville United Methodist Church. The public is welcome.