Donald Lee Hoover, 86, of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, passed away peacefully at his home Thursday morning, April 18th, 2024. He was born on May 13th, 1937, in Elwood City, Pennsylvania to his mother, Mary Alice Hoover and father Ray Hoover.

He is preceded in death by his wife of sixty-four years, Gina, his mother Mary Alice, his father Ray, and two sisters, Phyllis and Jeannie, all of Youngstown, Ohio. Don is also preceded in death by his son-in-law, Scott Clary of DeFuniak Springs.

Don is survived by two brothers, Jerry of Youngstown, Ohio, and Jimmy of Mesa, Arizona. He is also survived by his son, Dennis Lee Hoover and wife, Brenda, of Destin Florida, and his daughter, Wendy Hoover Clary, of DeFuniak Springs. Don is also survived by five grandchildren, Dylan Hoover and wife, Jessica of DeFuniak Springs, Jade Tucker and husband, RJ of DeFuniak Springs, Holly Allen, Whitney Mann and husband, Scottie of DeFuniak Springs, and Ashley Eddings of Atlanta, Georgia. Don also has been blessed with eleven great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild, and a special family friend who the family dearly loves, Cindi Walker-Alford.

After graduating from Fitch High School in Youngstown, Ohio in 1955 Don joined the US Navy and served on the Heavy Cruiser, USS Salem CA-139. While on leave in 1958 he met and married his life mate, Gina Louise Hahn of Youngstown. Soon afterward Don was assigned to Whiting Field in Milton, Florida, where he left the Navy in 1960.

After Don's service in the Navy, he transferred to the US Air Force and served a tour at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. In 1965 he was transferred to Eglin Air Force Base where he was medically retired in 1967 and moved his family to the country in DeFuniak Springs.

Since his military retirement he has been a resident of the DeFuniak Springs community where he worked for the phone company until retiring in 1997, seemingly knowing everyone in town through work, church activities, and school functions. Don, along with other dedicated parents, was instrumental in the growth of Walton Middle and High School Band programs.

Don, a loving husband and devoted father kept his family active in church, both Presbyterian and Methodist, raising his family with Christian values until the day of his passing.

"Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father."

Proverbs 17:6

Memorialization will be by cremation.

Flowers are being accepted.