David Scott Hancock

David Hancock, 81, succumbed to pneumonia on Monday, August 3, 2020, while visiting his family in Arlington, Texas. Dave was born July 20, 1939, in Ft Worth, Texas and was adopted when he was 17 days old by Scott and Thelma Hancock. He lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before the family moved to Ponca City in 1953 where he graduated from Ponca City High School in 1957. Dave married Judy Young and they had four children over the next eight years . . . Lisa, Rick, Rusty and Miki. He joined the Air Force in 1957 and served until 1960. He showed his skills early and was assigned as an instructor at Chanute Air Force Base. After his Air Force years, they moved back to Ponca City where he worked at Continental Oil Company in the Computer Department, making many lifelong friends. In 1969, his hard work and ambition were recognized by a vendor, Truett Airhart, who hired Dave to move to Tulsa to establish and run the third office of his newly-formed company, National Micromation. Dave married Carol Haley in 1970 and son, Greg, was born in December 1971. As National Micromation grew, the business was merged with a California company and the name was changed to Zytron Corporation. Dave and family moved to Northern California in 1975 and as Executive Vice President, he was instrumental in expanding Zytron to 15 cities across the country. Dave was more than just a boss; his co-workers became his lifelong friends. After work, the good times rolled and even business trips were fun and enjoyable. By 1994, Dave had left Zytron and later pursued an opportunity to start a new business in Southern California moving from Los Altos to Hermosa Beach. Five years later, a former Zytron employee and friend, Mike Cooper, started his new venture, Xpress Data, Inc. and persuaded Dave to come onboard to help grow the business. Dave spent nearly 20 years as Senior Vice President before failing eyesight forced his retirement in 2017. Dave was committed to his job and loved going to work every day. Following retirement, Dave quickly made the transition and enjoyed the additional time spent in their home in Coto de Caza with the view of the golf course and the mountains. Socializing with friends and neighbors became one of his favorite things that he looked forward to doing. Dave was a man of high integrity, and he possessed a strong moral compass. Those who knew him could feel his strong, genuine caring spirit. He treated everyone he met with respect, and he was genuinely interested to know everyone better. Dave Hancock knew how to make everyone feel important and special, valuing his relationships. He enjoyed creating memorable life experiences and thoroughly enjoyed his career . . . constantly striving for excellence in all avenues of his life. His strength and character were apparent to everyone who knew him, and these characteristics will live on through those that he influenced. #HancockStrong! For more than 20 years, Dave and Carol owned the International Chili Society, an organization that raised nearly 100 million for various charities. The ideas, inspiration, enthusiasm and passion came from their constant habit of doing absolutely everything together. Dave and Carol recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and created more incredible memories that were shared by their family and friends. They also enjoyed a 40-year friendship with Willie Nelson and Family. They started as fans, but their interactions led to friendships. Dave and Carol had the privilege of being invited by the band to join them on tour around the country that led to years of amazing trips. Dave had an affinity for Jack Daniels and was a proud Tennessee Squire. Dave joined his son Greg at the Jack Daniels Distillery for the 125th Anniversary. He also experienced the Kentucky Bourbon Trail with his sons Rick, Rusty and their families where Dave acquired a taste for fine bourbons, but never abandoned his old friend, Jack Daniels. Dave's family will hold a private memorial service to celebrate his incredible life that he lived to the fullest. Honor his memory by living your life with the same integrity he displayed every day. Please toast Dave with a glass of Jack, play a Willie Nelson song, tell a story of the good times you shared and remember Dave's favorite, fun phrase, “FASTER HORSES, YOUNGER WOMEN, OLDER WHISKEY AND MORE MONEY!” Dave is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter Lisa and husband Rodney; son Rick and his wife, Kim; son Rusty and his wife, Beth; daughter Miki and her husband Scott; son, Greg and his wife, Holly; sister Judy Hoppe and husband Warren; nine grandchildren (Kaleb and wife Darenda; Zachary and wife Candice; Aubrie and husband David; Brooks and wife Anna; Colt, Austin, Mackenzie, Parker, Brady) and four great-grandchildren (Brooklyn, Brody, Cason, Cori). In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation to the Braille Institute be made in Dave's name. This organization helps those experiencing vision loss and Dave was given access to a free audio book library that he thoroughly enjoyed as it became more difficult for him to read: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/donate