Obituary of John C. Hook

John Clifford Hook, age 89, passed away on July 13, 2011 in his home in McLean, Virginia. He was born on August 11, 1921 in Lee’s Summit to Elsie Leiweber and Arthur Hook, Missouri, and grew up on a large dairy farm. John completed naval pilot training in 1942 and was commissioned an Ensign in the U. S. Navy. He served as a U. S. Naval pilot in the South Pacific during World War II where his received two Distinguished Flying Crosses and five Air Medals. John retired from the U. S. Navy at the rank of Commander in July 1969. After his naval career, John worked for Booz-Allen Hamilton from 1969 until 1971. In May 1971, he started working for the Naval Air Systems Command where he was the project manager for numerous important military aircraft and satellite projects. On September 1993, John retired from the Naval Air Systems Command, concluding 49 years of federal service. John married Audrey Brownlee on August 6, 1962, and was father to a son, Courtney, from a previous marriage plus four Brownlee boys. John graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Maryland. In 1972, both John and his wife Audrey earned their Masters Degrees together from American University. John was also a graduate of the Naval War College in NewPort, R.I. John is survived by his four sons Michael Brownlee, Brian Brownlee, Gary Brownlee, and Mathew Brownlee and eight grand children Kathrine, Thomas, John, Jennifer, Rebecca, Hanna, Samuel and Bess, and his great-grand daughter Samantha. John is a long-time member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Funeral services will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, McLean, Virginia on July 25th at 11:00 A.M.