George T. Hooper

Lt. Col. George T. Hooper, USA, Ret. of Bisbee, Sierra Vista, Phoenix and Snowflake, Arizona, passed away on January 30, 2016.  He enlisted in the US Marine Corp in 1946 serving in the Corps for 3 years.  After discharge from the USMC, he enrolled in The Citadel Military College of South Carolina. He then entered the US Army serving for 30 years in various assignments throughout the U.S., Korea, Hawaii, Vietnam, Germany and Turkey. Colonel Hooper was a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He received a Master's Degree in August 1989 from Drury College at Springfield, Missouri. Colonel Hooper's military decorations include:  The Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Unit Citation, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, United Nations Service Medal Vietnam Campaign, Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant, Presidential Unit Citation Badge, and the General Staff Identification Badge.Colonel Hooper retired from the Army in 1980 and went to work for Southeast Arizona Medical Center in Douglas, AZ. He served 15 years as the hospital COO and 2 years as the CEO. He served for 20 years on the Cochise College Foundation Board. He also served as the Secretary/Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Charter Schools K-12 in Douglas and Sierra Vista.  He was Chairman of the Fry Fire District for 16 years. Colonel Hooper was a life member of the Citadel Alumni Assn.George Hooper was the son of Ted and Mabel Segelhorst Hooper of Ohio. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Barbara Lorraine Crosby and one son-in-law Mike Bianchi.He is survived by 5 daughters: Dianne Popp (Larry) Snowflake AZ, Linda Bianchi (Mike) Taylor AZ, Cathy Galloway Phoenix AZ, Lorie Franklin (Danny) Glendale AZ, Martha Boughner North Beach MD; 8 Grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, a sister, June (Richard) Runyon living in Ohio, plus numerous nieces, nephews and their children.A chapel service and inurnment will take place at the Southern Arizona Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista, AZ  85635 on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 2:00 pm.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the George and Barbara Hooper Scholarship for Nursing Students, Cochise College, Sierra Vista, Arizona.Arrangements handled by Owens Livingston Mortuary - Snowflake, Arizona.