Golfer and wounded World War II veteran Julian Sockman sadly passed away on Saturday.
Julian was born and raised in Moundsville, West Virginia. After graduating from Moundsville High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart and an honorable discharge.
With the GI Bill, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Marshall University.
He worked for the Department of Highways for 33 years before retiring to enjoy travel and golf.
Julian remained active in the community over the years, serving as an active member of the Village Chapel Presbyterian Church and the Charleston Lions Club and delivering Meals on Wheels for nearly 20 years.
He was also a member of the Marshall Alumni Association and an avid Marshall sports enthusiast, always eager to cheer on his Thundering Herd in all sporting events.
Julian “Jule” Heath Sockman Passed Away At The Age Of 102
Wounded World War II veteran and golfer Julian “Jule” Heath Sockman, 102, took his last breath on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Hubbard Hospice House in South Charleston, West Virginia.
However, the cause of death has not been revealed yet.
Kanawha County took to their official Facebook handle and mourned the tragic loss of Julian. They wrote,
The Kanawha County Commission is saddened to learn about the passing of Mr. Julian Sockman. He was a WWII veteran who recently celebrated his 102nd birthday. Julian was well loved by his family and community. He was a founding member of his church, Village Chapel Presbyterian in Kanawha City. A life well lived, but he will be missed. We send our condolences to the Sockman family. Visitation and funeral services will be held later this week.
Kanawha County
Fay Hensley took to his social media handle, offered heartfelt condolences, and sent prayers to Julian’s family by stating,
Prayers for his family. Thankful for his service. My uncle never made it home from the Battle of the Bulge
Fay Hensley
Tammy Johnson, a graduate of WV Business College, also mourned Julian’s tragic loss. He wrote,
Rest in peace our fallen hero. Comfort, prayers and solace for your family and loved ones.
Tammy Johnson
Denise Snow also offered her heartfelt condolences by stating,
Lord I praise you for this man’s service to our country. Prayers for all
Denise Snow
Julian’s family has announced that a service to honor his life will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at Village Chapel Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia.
Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park in South Charleston.
Instead of flowers, that family asked that donations be made to Village Chapel Presbyterian Church or the Hubbard Hospice House.
Julian will always be remembered for his contributions as a US Army soldier and golfer. Rest in Heaven, Julian “Jule” Heath Sockman.
Julian Sockman And His Late Wife, Rose Ellen, Had Two Sons And Three Grandchildren
Julian “Jule” Heath Sockman met Rose Ellen at Marshall University. After marriage, they made Kanawha City their home.
Sadly, their married life ended following the tragic death of Rose Ellen.
Jule and Rose were blessed with two sons: Roger and Dean Sockman.
According to Roger’s LinkedIn profile, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Journalism from Marshall University in 1984.
He served as the training instructor and public information specialist at the Florida Department of State for 2 years and 11 months.
Roger was a full-time deputy press secretary at the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office from December 2021 to November 2022.
Since February 2023, he has been serving as an assistant executive director at West Virginia 811, Damage Prevention Board.
Roger Sockman tied the knot with Rita Sockman.
On the other hand, Jule’s second son, Dean, also attended Marshall University and graduated in 2003.
He was a senior analyst at NiSource and an IT specialist at IBM. Since June 2018, Dean has served as the SCADA and telemetry analyst at the Charleston Sanitary Board.
Dean tied the knot with Debbie Sockman.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Julian is also survived by his sister-in-law, Judy; his nephew, Grant Archibald; his great-nephew, Matthew; and his cousin, Rick Hanna.
- Sockman was also a long-time supporter of the Charleston Light Opera Guild and Kanawha Players.
- His son, Dean, pursued his bachelor’s degree in computer science at West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
