Judge George E. Van Hook

George Ellis Van Hook was born on August 27, 1948, in El Dorado, Arkansas, to the late Lt. George Ellis Van Hook, Sr. and Rupert Marie Few Van Hook.

George received his primary education in the El Dorado School District and graduated from Washington High School with the Class of 1966. He continued his education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1970 and his Juris Doctor in 1973. He was admitted to the Arkansas Bar later that same year.

George began his legal career in private practice in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and also served as an attorney for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. In 1976, he returned to El Dorado and established the George Van Hook Jr. Law Office, where his primary area of practice was civil law.

In 1991, George was elected Union County Municipal Judge and presided over the Municipal and District Courts, which, at that time, served the largest geographical county in the State of Arkansas. Judge Van Hook managed an extensive and diverse court docket that included misdemeanor pleas and bench trials, small claims cases, and felony first appearances.

Judge Van Hook served with honor, integrity, and distinction for more than thirty-three years. His dedication to justice earned him the admiration and respect of the citizens and municipalities of Union County, as well as the State of Arkansas.

Judge Van Hook was preceded in death by his parents, Lt. George Ellis Van Hook, Sr. and Rupert Marie Few Van Hook; his brother, Wendell Maurice Van Hook; his godbrother, Joe Turner (Ella); and his close friends, David McDaniel, T. C. Williams, and Clark Furlow.

He leaves to cherish his precious memory his beloved wife of twenty-four wonderful years, LaDebra Gatson-Van Hook; his children, Alison Lutsch (John) of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and George Ellis Van Hook III of Dallas, Texas; three bonus children, Felcia Harris (Danny) of Crossett, Arkansas, Demetric Holmes (Kellie) of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Rachael Davis (Lawrence) of El Dorado, Arkansas; his godson, David Lee of El Dorado, Arkansas; his goddaughter, Rita Maxwell of El Dorado, Arkansas; two sisters, Mary Ellen Walker of Atlanta, Georgia, and Blossam Williams of Cleveland, Ohio; two sisters-in-law, Rachell Gatson and Sherry Miller (Raymond), both of El Dorado, Arkansas; fourteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, colleagues, and dear friends.

Judge Van Hook's legacy of fairness, wisdom, compassion, and dedicated public service will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched. His commitment to justice, love for his family, and unwavering integrity will forever be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.