HOATSON, Grant Cameron, age 93, formerly of Seminole, FL passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023.
Grant was born at his parents’ home at 80 Columbus Avenue in Montclair, NJ on October 19, 1930 to Grant and Isabel (Cameron) Hoatson. He graduated from Montclair High School in 1949 and from Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL in 1953 with the B.A. degree in English Writing. He served in the US Army during the Korean conflict, but was based in Germany. After that, he graduated from Ohio State University with the M.A. in Broadcasting in 1957. While a student he was employed by WLWC- TV, an NBC station in Columbus, as both a Producer-Director and Film Director. Grant was then employed by WPTA-TV, an ABC affiliate in Fort Wayne, IN, also as a Producer-Director and Film Director.
He was appointed as Director of Public Relations at Fort Wayne Bible College in 1958. During his 25 years there he taught courses in Journalism, Radio TV Broadcasting, Elementary and Christian Education and later became a Professor of Speech, Director of Instructional Services and Alumni Coordinator and produced the radio program, “Crossroads” for the college on station WOWO.
He married Patricia Joan Witt, whom he met at Fort Wayne Bible College, in 1959.
He earned the Ed. D. in Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. He was appointed as Director of Instructional Television
Services at St. Petersburg College in 1984 where he served until retirement in 1996.
Grant has served as President of the Indiana College Public Relations Directors and as Secretary-Treasurer of the Christian College Coordinating Council.
Throughout his life, he was active in church in each place he lived, usually teaching Sunday school classes for adults. Along with his wife, he led a Bible study for students at St. Petersburg College.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Donald Hoatson, and his son, Kirk Cameron Hoatson. He is survived and deeply missed by his wife, Patricia Joan Hoatson; his children and their spouses—Robin and Darryl Brown and Todd and Kristen Hoatson, as well as his daughter-in-law, Susan Warrington Hoatson; plus a total of 7 grandchildren: Cameron Brown, Candice and Spencer Goewey; Brianna, Caleb and Renee Brown; Keri and Samuel Hoatson; and 3 great grandchildren: Olivia, Annalise and Forest Goewey.
