Sunrise: February 10, 1946 Sunset: November 28, 2012 Leon Hoke was born on February 10th 1964 in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the youngest son of Eunice (Russell) Hoke and Robert L. Hoke Sr., who, along with his older brother, Robert L. Hoke Jr., preceded him in death. Leon started his Education in Boston Public Schools; graduated from Bridgewater High school in 1963 and entered the National Guard. He was stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and was trained as a demolition specialist. Leon was a lifelong learner, and those who knew him saw that his education was achieved in and out of the classroom. He loved to educate. Leon received his BS in Psychology and Nutrition at Kentucky State. It was there in 1969 that he became a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. One of his memorable moments in undergraduate school is when he worked in the Lab of Percy L. Julian, an American research chemist and pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants. Leon was pictured in the PBS documentary about Dr. Julian’s research. He completed his Master’s degree in Guidance Counseling at Chicago State and paid for his graduate school tuition by driving cabs and often reminded people of his excellent driving skills. After Graduate school Leon worked at the Department of Corrections as a Drug and Rehab counselor. In 1979 Leon applied to and was accepted to work for Pan Am airlines and later moved on to United Airlines where he retired in 2010. He loved this career and grew to love to travel for leisure. Some of his favorite places to visits were China, Japan, Taiwan, Ghana, Switzerland, Australia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Bangkok, Brazil and Thailand. Along with travel, Leon had a strong gift for learning languages. He spoke Mandarin, French, Spanish and some Cantonese and Japanese. Leon loved nutrition. He truly believed that you are what you eat and liked to share his knowledge about the benefits of minerals and a healthy lifestyle with people. He got his green thumb from his father and enjoyed working his land and in his Green house. He thought it was important to have a sustainable garden. Over the years Leon has done so many things, taught English, facilitated diversity workshops, started an import- export business and real estate. Leon privately and bravely battled Multiple Myeloma for many years. He wanted to keep his independence and stay where he loved, his home in Battleground Washington. As the disease got worse he made the decision that he needed to come back home. When he arrived back in Massachusetts in April the doctors were surprised on how well he looked for someone whose disease had progressed so far. He believed in the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and positive energy and these beliefs allowed him to live 10 months longer than he was told. Leon is survived by his older brother Arthur Lee, his niece Gena Pena Garcia, her husband Danny and his niece Roxanne Hoke Chandler, 7 great nieces and nephews, cousins and many wonderful friends including those across the country and around the world.