John L. Hoard

John L. Hoard, 88, of Franklin, IN, passed away on May 21, 2026. He was born on May 5, 1938, in Indianapolis, IN, to the late Wilson and Alice (Eads) Hoard.

John graduated from Arsenal Tech High School and went on to work for Kroger, where he served as the produce manager in the main warehouse. He retired in 1998 after many years of dedicated service. John was a member of the Oaklandon Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years, a Shriner, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

John’s natural skill and attention to detail were evident early on through the race cars he built with friends and raced on Madison Avenue. With a little convincing from one of those friends, John went on a double date, where he met Brenda Hutson. John and Brenda fell in love and were married on June 6, 1964, following a short courtship. Together, they built a life and shared many years of love and devotion until Brenda’s passing in August 2023.

John had a love for woodworking and took great pride in each project he finished. He was meticulous in his work and had a natural gift for building things well. On one occasion, John and his grandfather built his sister an entertainment center using only a picture as a guide, along with wood from an oak tree that had been taken down in her yard. John also built a small cabin and a large barn with his father in Patricksburg. After retiring, John added onto the cabin and made it into a livable home, creating a place that reflected his hard work and dedication. He was a perfectionist in all that he did, whether he was working with wood, caring for his home, or making sure everything was returned to its proper place after deep cleaning a room. The way he worked and the things he built remain a lasting reflection of the kind of man he was.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Brenda; his son, John Keith Hoard; and his daughter, Lisa Hoard.

John is survived by his children, Cheryl Foster (Brett) and Mark Hoard; grandchildren, Courtney Barker-Devine (Rusty), Justin Sexson (Lauren), Caitlin Kessler (Dustin), Kimberly Deckard (Caleb), Kristen Yates (Mathew), Zachary Hoard, Alexia Balder, and Jade Balder Hopkins; and great-grandchildren, Liam Engle, Zane Engle, Michael Sexson, Charlotte Kessler, Wren Sexson, Joshua Hoard, Scarlett Yates, Luca Deckard, Liliana Barker-Devine, Lillith Deckard, Amethyst Hoard, Asher Stapert, Jadalynn Conley, and Jackson Fey.