James Edward Hoover, 78, of Walton went to heaven on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, after a battle with pneumonia, a breakthrough case of Covid, and a five-year battle with cancer.
Jim was born in Stamford at Bathgate Hospital on Sept. 9, 1943. He was the youngest child of Rev. Kenneth and Irene (Witner) Hoover, and was born while Rev. Hoover was serving the Hobart and Township Methodist Churches. Jim graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1961 and entered the United States Air Force after a brief stint at SUNY Delhi. He served in the USAF from 1962 to 1966 as a cryptographer stationed at Offutt AFB Nebraska. Following his service, his love of the skies didn’t end, and he worked at Grumman Aerospace on the USS Forrestal and USS Enterprise. He later enrolled at SUNY Farmingdale where he graduated with a degree in Aircraft Operation Technology, becoming a licensed pilot.
On Jan. 23, 1971, while attending a church function at his father’s current post in Farmingdale, Jim met Rosemarie Lynn Tiedemann. They married two years later, (to the day!) on Jan. 23, 1973 and were married for 48 and a half years before his death. Their daughter, Rebecca Lynn was born on Aug. 26, 1984 and was recently joined in marriage with Caleb Kimpton on Aug. 28.
Jim and Lynn’s marriage included spending the many summers at the home that his parents had purchased on Roses Brook in South Kortright, where Jim was the main caretaker and “Jack of all trades.” This home was originally a church, and in the 50 years that the family owned it was the scene of many happy memories. Jim and Lynn moved to Walton in 1977 where Jim worked at Del-Met for 17 years, and Ultra Dairy for 21 years, retiring on April Fool’s Day 2011. Jim loved the irony of his retirement date.
In addition to his employment and his family, Jim served as a trustee for the First United Methodist Church in Walton and supported the Girl Scouts through Lynn’s leadership. He worked on numerous projects, and fixed things that needed to be mended, always supporting in the background. He always kept old equipment and parts, because “you never know when you’re going to need that.” He enjoyed tinkering in the garage and could fix just about anything.
He had a great sense of humor, and was sincere in every way. He loved going out on the back roads with his motorcycles and in more recent years in the convertible with Lynn. No maps or GPS were required, Jim had a great sense of direction and would always get back home. Well after his departure from aerospace he still loved the skies and flight, and often traveled to local airshows to see the old aircraft as well as the flight demonstrations, though Snoopy would always be his favorite pilot, as he thoroughly enjoyed Peanuts cartoons and stories.
Jim is survived by his wife Lynn, daughter Rebecca (Caleb), sisters Barbara, Charlotte, and Noel as well as numerous nieces and nephews and Bounder (his favorite feline backyard companion).
He was predeceased by his parents, and older brother Rollin.
A service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, at the First United Methodist Church, 101 North Street, Walton, at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow. Donations in his memory can be made to the Kevin Guest House, 782 Ellicott Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14203, a place that provided respite during Jim’s cancer fight (kevinguesthouse.com/give/donate/); UMCOR - United Methodist Committee on Relief, in the care of the First United Methodist Church, 101 North Street, Walton, NY 13856 (umcmission.org/umcor/), or a charity of your choosing.
Jim will continue to live in the hearts of everyone that knew and loved him.
