Bobby "Bob" Ray Hoover

Bobby Ray Hoover, March 19, 1935 – January 27, 2021 On Wednesday, January 27, 2021 Bobby Ray Hoover, loving husband, father and grandfather passed away unexpectedly due to complications from COVID-19. Bob Hoover was born in March 1935 in the Piney Woods of East Texas to Edgar and Josie Hoover. He grew up on a farm near Mt. Vernon, with his sister and many cousins. He graduated from Mt. Vernon High school in 1952, where he was a Tiger Football player with All-District Honorable mentions. He attended a one-room Nazarene church in Mt. Vernon which led him to Bethany Nazarene College, (now SNU) in Bethany, Oklahoma. He graduated in 1957 with a degree in physical education, then went on to receive a master’s in administration from East Texas State University. In college he met the love of his life, Eleanor Bond and after a short courtship they were married December 28, 1956. Their life together of 64 years was a love story of faithfulness, joy and adventure, traveling to 50 state capitals, and raising 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Bob was drafted into the Army during his senior year, and upon graduation he and his wife moved to Tacoma Washington where he was stationed at Ft. Lewis and trained as a sharpshooter. (1958-1960) He started his career as a teacher, in Stinnett, TX and then moved to Denison Independent School district, where he coached and taught 8th grade science from 1965 until he retired in 1993. Bob devoted his life to God, his wife, children and the Church of the Nazarene. He loved adventure, traveling, spending time with his kids and grandchildren, teaching Sunday school and playing all sorts of games. He especially enjoyed mission trips both inside the U.S. and overseas, where he traveled to Peru, Haiti, Ecuador and Africa. He loved to fix things and there was rarely anything he couldn’t repair. He rebuilt his 52 Chevrolet truck many times through the years. If you met Bob, he was always welcoming, gracious, helpful, up for good humor and fun. He was always willing go the extra mile and help anyone. There are many who consider Bob, 2nd father, mentor, friend and affectionately call him Papa. We will miss the man who faithfully got up early every morning to read his Bible, pray for his family and all those for which he cared. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Eddie Joe, and a granddaughter Janae Wilson. He is survived by his wife Eleanor, his 2 daughters and son, Sheila Lemon, Rita and Gary Wilson and Tim and Rachel Hoover, his grandchildren Lauren, Zachary and Alli Hoover, Raymond and Jazmine Wilson, Ellie and Brianna Lemon. He will be missed by his sister Gayle Hoover-Palmer, extended family, including many nieces, nephews and friends. Pallbearers: Tim Hoover, Gary Wilson, Zachary Hoover, Raymond Wilson, Larry Hudson and Larry Abels The Florist Link and name is: Flowers By Roberta - (972) 775-2270 www.Midlothiantxflowers.com The service will be broadcast on The Shepherds House Church of The Nazarene Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20shepherd%27s%20house%20church%20of%20the%20nazarene Or you can go to The Shepherds House Website to view the service. https://www.shepherdshousechurch.org/?fbclid=IwAR3_Mt7v1pfab164g3a_CZmdl6-LJJIVRhoXPv6ddqQFNaap2PBpMcPmL2w FOLLOWING ALL COVID GUIDELINES the family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until 12:NOON on Friday - February 05, 2021 at The Shepherd's House Church of the Nazarene, 3221 Mockingbird Lane, Midlothian, TX 76065 with the Funeral Service beginning at 12:NOON (same day) with Pastor Scott McDorman, officiating. Interment will be private, with Military Honors, on a later date in the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, TX. Memorials or donations, in Bob's name, are directed to https://www.shepherdshousechurch.org/give Click on the link. 1. Select Option of “Other” 2. Indicate in note for “Bob Hoover Memorial” 3. Complete box with the amount.