Donald Ernest Hancock

September 13, 1952 - August 2, 2017

Saluda, SC Colonel Donald Hancock Ret. Donald Ernest Hancock, 64, died Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at Hospice Care of the Piedmont in Greenwood. Born in Newberry County on September 13, 1952, he was the son of the late Charlie Ernest and Helen Ruth Price Hancock. Colonel Donald Hancock was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps in August of 1975. Active duty tours included Okinawa and subsequent deployment in the Western Pacific, deployment with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, Supply Officer for the Second Assault Amphibian Battalion, and Supply Officer for 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, Second Marine Division. After his active duty discharge in 1982, Col Hancock served as a Platoon Commander, Delta Company, 4th Combat Engineers, 4th Marine Division, Knoxville, Tennessee through 1987. From 1987 to 1990, Col Hancock served as the Assistant Operations Officer, 4th Supply Battalion, 4th FSSG, Newport News, Virginia. From 1990 to 1993, Col Hancock served sequentially as Logistics, Operations, and Executive Officer with the Sassy Management Unit, 4th Supply Battalion, 4th FSSG, Raleigh, NC. In 1993, Col Hancock served as the 4th Supply Battalion Operations Officer, From 1995 - 1997, Col Hancock served as the Commanding Officer of the SMU in Raleigh. From 1997 through 2003, Col Hancock served sequentially as Supply Officer, Logistics Operations Officer and Logistics Officer of the II Marine Expeditionary Force Augmentation Command Element (II MACE) at Camp Lejeune. Colonel Hancock was promoted to his present rank in March 2000. Upon mobilization in January, 2003, he served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Deployment Support Group until September 2004. Col Hancock took command of the 4th FSSG Forward East in October of 2003. In September 2004, Colonel Hancock became the II MEF Forward Assistant Logistics Officer. He deployed to Iraq in January 2005. Col Hancock held a B.A. in History from Georgia Southern, a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from University of Tennessee, and a M.B.A. from William and Mary. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. His formal schools include Reserve Command and Staff College, Reserve Amphibious Warfare School, Reserve Components National Security Course, and the Strategy and Policy Course from the Naval War College. Col Hancock retired from Lucent Technologies in July 2001. He retired as Commanding Officer of 4th FSSG Forward East in 2005, completing thirty years of service. Mr. Hancock had a strong love and devotion for Saluda County. He was Chairman of Saluda County Council, serving his second term, and was recently appointed Chairman of Upper Savannah Council of Governments. He was a member of Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 65, and the Lions Club. He loved the Boy Scout program and as a child earned many awards including Eagle Scout. Upon his return to Saluda he served as a troop leader. Surviving are two sisters, Charlyn Hancock Staubes of Saluda and Ann Hancock Coker (Richard) of Greenwood, three nephews, Keller Staubes (Nicole), Justin Coker, and Tyler Coker (Rebecca), a niece, Katie Staubes (Ricky Baturin), a great-niece, Emmalyn Staubes, two great-nephews, Nolan Coker and Tripp Staubes, and step-mother, Geneva Hancock. Charlyn and Ann thank Dr. Ruiling Yuan, Sia Pickell, and Haley Schleicher of the Cancer Center and 7th floor Nursing Staff of Self Regional Healthcare, Hospice Care of the Piedmont, and Saluda County EMS for the loving care their brother received. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m., Saturday evening at Ramey Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 4 p.m., Sunday, August 6, 2017 at Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church. Interment will follow in West Travis Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Boy Scout Troop 555, 232 Carolina Bay Trail, Monetta, SC 29105.