Obituary of Bernard Jerome Hoover

Bernard Jerome "Jerry" Hoover was called home after 95 years of life to meet his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 31, 2021. Born in Baltimore, MD on December 3, 1925, Jerry was the third child of Francis "Frank" C. and Margaret E. (Fischer) Hoover. Jerry is predeceased by his first wife, Joan Mae (Tydeman) Hoover, with whom he shared fifty loving years of marriage, raising four children and residing in Baltimore, Dallas and Virginia Beach. He is also preceded in death by his siblings, John and Margaret as well as his three half siblings, Katherine Willetts, Frank Hoover and Betty Cowman.

Jerry is survived by his second wife, Darlene (Hotz) (Schmidt) Hoover, who has been a devoted spouse, friend and caregiver to Jerry for twenty-one years. Jerry is also survived by his children, Michael Hoover, Gary Hoover and wife Susan, Jim Hoover and wife Emily, and Lori Meetre and husband Randy; his step-daughters, Mary Gusman and Christie Overbeck and husband Jeff; his 12 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, and 20 great grandchildren.

Jerry's community service included membership in the Knights of Columbus, Full Gospel Businessmen's Association, where he served as Secretary, Vice President, and President and the Lion's Club, as well as countless hours of volunteer work through his various church memberships, teaching Bible Study classes, visiting the infirm and helping the indigent.

Serving in WWII was among Jerry's proudest and most storied accomplishments. After his graduation from mount St. Joseph's high School in Baltimore and with the signature of his mother before he turned 18, Jerry eniisted in the Army Air corps (USAF) in 1943. He flew front-gunner in a B-24 bomber, completing his required sorties from italy into Germany until his honorable discharge as Staff Sergeant in November 1945.

Jerry encouraged each of his children to be the best at whatever they chose to do for a living. Among his own occupations, he worked as a cab driver (how he met Joan), a warehouseman and station owner for Cities Service Oil, a point person of sales shows and a salesman for Black and Decker, a SnapOn sales rep and finally as successful entrepreneur and co-owner with Joan of Econo Quick printing services.

His children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and closet friends will recall Jerry's coming to poetry in the last decade of his life by his embracing the limerick form (for its humor, of course) to remember each person's birthday with an original limerick, many years over. His love for playing the ponies helped keep his gifts for organization and creating systems sharp.

Jerry never liked to be bored and often kidded his children as they grew up to "do something, even if it was wrong!" He remembered jokes and good-natured stories from his childhood to the present, which contributed to his positive outlook.on being undeterred, successful, and turning any moment into a light one.

There will be a memorail service at a time to be determined by the immediate family for Jerry's inurnment in Virginia Beach at Princess Anne Memorial Park.