John William Hankey

John William Hankey was born around 1952 in Pennsylvania, during the post-World War II baby boom era that would shape his generation's experiences. He was the son of John "Jack" Hankey and Mary Lou Hankey, both of whom preceded him in death. The Hankey family had deep roots in Pennsylvania, with ancestral records indicating the surname had been established in the state for several generations, including John Frank Hankey Sr. (1892-1964), who married Pearl Margaret Mehaffey in 1912.

John grew up alongside two sisters in what appears to have been a close-knit family. His sister Barbara Ann Peck was significantly older, born on September 28, 1927, in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Barbara married Hugh Peck and lived to age ninety, passing away on October 18, 2017. His other sister, Jane Davis, was closer to John's age and died suddenly on August 18, 2017, at age sixty-six in Greenfield, Pennsylvania. Through Barbara's marriage, John became uncle to Andy and Megan Peck.

John pursued higher education at the University of Pittsburgh, one of Pennsylvania's major research universities, where he earned his degree. The University of Pittsburgh, commonly known as "Pitt," was undergoing significant expansion during the 1960s and early 1970s when John would have been a student, as American higher education grew dramatically during the Cold War era. His graduation from this prestigious institution represented a substantial educational achievement that positioned him well above the average educational attainment of his generation.

Following his university education, John chose a career as a limousine driver, a profession he maintained for many years. This work placed him in the service transportation industry, providing luxury transportation services to business executives, airport travelers, and special event attendees throughout the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The limousine driving profession required maintaining high professional standards, a clean driving record, and strong client relationships—qualities John evidently possessed throughout his long career.

As an adult, John became the father of three sons: John "JW" Hankey II, Ryan Hankey, and Brad Hankey. The designation of his eldest son as John "JW" Hankey II continued the family tradition of carrying forward the John name through generations. While details about his marriage or the mother of his children are not recorded in available sources, his three sons remained connected to him throughout his life and were present to make arrangements following his death.

John's most significant community involvement centered on his membership at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford, Pennsylvania, where he became a beloved and prominent figure. Orchard Hill Church was founded on May 6, 1989, with fifty-four founding members and had grown to serve over three thousand members by the time of John's death. The nondenominational church represented a significant institutional presence in the Pittsburgh religious landscape, with campuses in Wexford, the Strip District, and Butler.

Within his church community, John earned two distinctive nicknames that captured the essence of his spiritual personality and impact. He was known as "The Hammer" because he would without hesitation emphasize how he personally experienced the love of Christ and how this experience fundamentally altered his life. This nickname drew on biblical imagery in which God's word is compared to a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces, suggesting that John's consistent witness to his faith functioned as a spiritual tool that shaped those around him. His willingness to speak openly about his spiritual transformation indicated a man comfortable with his faith and eager to share its reality with others.

John's second nickname, "The Heartbeat," reflected a complementary aspect of his spiritual presence. In group settings and Bible studies, John embodied the passion, sincerity, and warmth of those around him, providing emotional vitality and authentic connection that kept the community spiritually engaged. The combination of these two nicknames—one emphasizing doctrinal conviction and the other emotional authenticity—suggested John had achieved a rare integration of intellectual commitment to faith and relational warmth in his spiritual community.

Throughout his adult life, John resided in Richland Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, a substantial community with nearly twelve thousand residents located approximately twelve miles northwest of Pittsburgh. This location placed him in the affluent suburban regions near the Ohio River, close to communities like Sewickley and Wexford where his funeral arrangements and church activities were centered.

John William Hankey passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the age of seventy-three. His funeral arrangements reflected the central role his church community played in his life. Friends were received at Schellhaas & Sons Funeral Home in Sewickley on the day of his death, followed by a memorial service at Orchard Hill Church-Wexford the next day. The choice of his church as the venue for his memorial service underscored how central his faith community had become to his identity and relationships.

In lieu of flowers, John's family requested donations to either Orchard Hill Church or the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving post-9/11 wounded, ill, or injured veterans and their families, operates from a Pittsburgh office and provides comprehensive programs addressing mental health, physical wellness, and veteran support services. This charitable choice revealed John's values extended beyond his immediate church community to encompass care for those whose lives had been marked by military sacrifice.

John's reputation as "a joy to be with" and someone whose presence uplifted others spoke to his authentic character and genuine human warmth. He successfully integrated his professional life as a limousine driver with his increasingly prominent role in his religious community, demonstrating that secular work and spiritual commitment need not be contradictory. His life exemplified authentic Christian faith lived out through genuine relationships, passionate witnessing to personal transformation, and consistent care for family and community members.

Though John Hankey did not achieve wide public recognition, his significance existed primarily within his family and church community—the authentic locus of meaning for most human lives. His legacy lives on through his three sons, his church community where he was known as both "The Hammer" and "The Heartbeat," and the charitable causes he supported. His death marked the end of a life characterized by genuine faith, professional service, and the kind of authentic, relationship-centered existence that defines truly meaningful human experience.