Florence I. "Babe" Hoover

Florence “Babe” Hoover, 95, of Greenleaf, KS, died Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at the Washington County Hospital in Washington. A funeral service was 11 a.m., April 23, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Greenleaf with Father David Metz officiating. Sheila Ouellette was organist and the congregation sang, “Ave Maria,” “Panis Angelicus” and “How Great Thou Art.” Burial was in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. She was born September 25, 1920, the youngest child of George and Gertrude (Esslinger) Wurtz, at St Mary’s, KS. When she was three years old her family moved to Clifton, where she attended country school for seven years, finishing all eight grades. Babe received her first Holy Communion and Confirmation in St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Clifton. In 1937, she graduated from Clifton High School. On September 25, 1939, she was united in marriage to Michael L Hoover at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clifton. They moved to Kansas City, MO, where Mike attended radio and television school. When Mike joined the Navy, Babe worked as a secretary and bookkeeper at the Farmer’s Coop Elevator for six years. On September 25, 1949, they adopted a baby boy, Robert “Beau” Hoover, he died of cancer on October 17, 1965. Babe worked as a licensed stock broker from 1969 thru 1976. She joined Mike’s Dance Band as a drummer from 1969 thru 1976. She was very active in the church, thirteen years in various offices of the Altar Society, Deanery offices, Cemetery and Church Council, taught C.C.D. classes for twenty-seven years, and served as a lector many years. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mike on December 16, 2001; son, Beau Hoover; brothers, Gerald Wurtz and Paul Wurtz; sisters, Rose Perott, Geraldine Racette, Alice Schumaker, Laura Steen, and Matilda Talbot. Survivors include several nieces and nephews. A memorial fund is established to Sacred Heart Catholic Masses or to her great niece’s foundation for metastatic breast cancer, the Cancer Couch Foundation, PO Box 1145, Southport, CT 06890. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Florence I. "Babe" Hoover, please visit our flower store.