William David "Bill" "Buddy" Hoover

William David “Bill”, “Buddy” Hoover, 82, passed away early Wednesday morning, January 24, 2018, after a noble battle against heart disease. His life was well-lived. After the Air Force and college at what is now ULM, he was a practicing CPA for well over 30 years and felt privileged to serve as CPA for Clarke Williams, Sr., during the early days of Century Telephone Enterprises, now Century Link. Bill was a great businessman, making investments over the years in a number of different ventures, such as Long Distance Savers and Jim Taylor Ford/Chevrolet. He loved seeing those with a dream to own a business turn that business into a profitable reality. Bill worked hard, played hard and loved life. He valued an education, resourcefulness and tenacity in people. Will Rogers might not have ever met a man he didn’t like, but Bill Hoover rarely met someone he didn’t try to help. One late afternoon not so long ago he found a toddler with a dirty diaper, sitting in a patch of weeds by the side of the road. He stopped his truck, picked up the baby and knocked on a few doors; no one knew the boy. Bill drove him to the police station, and learned that the baby had wandered out the door of his home nearby. Bill loved hunting and fishing, especially with his family and dear friends at the Brown House Camp in Sterlington. He enjoyed watching football and making friendly wagers on the outcome of the games. He treasured all of his buddies at The Fish House: the owner, the employees, and the patrons with whom he kept regular company during his frequent lunches and dinners there. He told his granddaughter a few weeks before his death that he loved his family; then he made sure to stop and say, “I love God and then my family.” Bill encouraged his children and grandchildren to work hard in school and as a result his legacy has produced three B.A. degrees, two B.S. degrees, one B.B.A., one M.B.A., two attorneys, and one dentist… so far! Bill would not want anyone to be sad about his passing. He said he wasn’t afraid to die, and that he had lived a great life, with lots of opportunity, lots of luck, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lois Pelanowski Hoover, three children and their spouses, Gary and Cindy Hoover, Richmond and Terri Hoover Odom, Scott and Gayle Hoover Frick. Bill had seven grandchildren (and their spouses): Derek and Madeline Hoover Salter, Matthew and Amanda Thompson Debnam, Emily, Mallory and Macy Debnam, and Peyton and Nathan Frick. He had seven great-grandchildren: Zeppelin, Emily-Vanessa, Maggie, Corbin, and Hazel Salter; and Edie and William “Buddy” Debnam. Bill is also survived by one sister, Sue Hoover Bennett, one brother, Chester Allen Hoover, two sisters/brothers-in-law, Linda Pelanowski Baum and Danny and Laura Pelanowski Sledge, and mother-in-law, Opal Pelanowski. Finally, he was survived by honorary family members including: Ramona Beasley, Kathy Merritt, Emily Fillpot, and Aleksandra Jasienska. He was preceded in death by his parents, David Avery Hoover and Edith “Edie” Price Hoover, one sister and one brother, Thelma Hoover Hopkins and Dale Price Hoover, Sr.

Bill Hoover will be missed, and long remembered as a fun-loving, hard-working businessman, sportsman, husband, Dad, Papaw, brother, and friend.

Visitation will be held at Mulhearn Funeral Home, 2308 Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Saturday, January 27, 2018. Funeral services will be held at that same location on Sunday afternoon, January 28, 2018 at 2:00 PM. Burial will be at the Mausoleum of Kilpatrick’s Serenity Gardens, West Monroe.

Pall Bearers are Cole Ringle, Carson Clowers, Jeremy Newsome, Peyton Frick, Nathan Frick, Derek Salter, Clark Strange and Tyler Strange. Honorary Pall Bearers are Jackie Clowers, John Rappold, Fred Hamel, Larry Jones, Freddy Nolan, Percy Melancon, J.D. Greco, Richard Norman and Tommy Winkler.

Memorials in Bill’s honor can be made to THE ULM FOUNDATION, (with ‘William D. “Bill” Hoover Memorial Fund’ as the notation), 3601 Desiard Street, Monroe, LA 71203. These funds will contribute to the William D. “Bill” Hoover Endowed Scholarship at ULM as his legacy.

Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com

Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA