Wilma J. (Rupp) Hoover

Wilma J. Hoover, 86, Hays, died Monday, November 16, 2015 at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born August 31, 1929 in Hays the daughter of Adam F. and Anna C. (Wolf) Rupp.  She graduated from Girl’s Catholic High School in 1947.  On January 21, 1950 she married Herbert C. Hoover in Hays.  They celebrated 64 years of marriage before he died July 6, 2014.  In 1993, she went to college at Fort Hays State University and received her BS degree in Nursing.  She was secretary/treasurer of Rupp’s Inc. and retired as an RN at Hays Good Samaritan Center.  She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Epsilon Sigma Alpha.  She was a phenomenal mother while raising a big family and she was a tremendous cook.  She was the family caregiver, very loving and giving of her time and talent, and was known for her sense of humor.  She was involved with the PTA for many years and also sang in a women’s barbershop quartet and in church choirs. 

Survivors include two sons; Don Hoover and wife H. Jolene and Fred Hoover and partner
Tracy Daugherty, all of Hays, five daughters; Mary Metz and husband Bill of Berryton, KS, Carol Neihardt and husband Nelson of Eudora, Connie Sheldon of Hays, Sue Ihde and husband Bob of Hays, and Janet Kuhn and husband Ed of Walker, Kansas, eleven grandchildren; Alisa Caruthers, Roy Herman, Travis Neihardt, Adam Sheldon, Thomas Zimmerman, Holden Hoover, Traci Dougherty, Brenna Sherlock, Theresa Griffith, Anna Zimmerman, and Madison Hoover, nine great grandchildren; Alex Caruthers, Jillyan Sheldon, Taylor Dougherty, Kooper Sherlock, McKenzi Hoover, Justice Autry, Jerome Autry, Gus Griffith, and Titus Griffith.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son in law Mike Schlageck, and two great grandsons; Xavier and Brixton Zimmerman.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, Hays.  Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 3:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 9:30 am until 10:15 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St.  A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm on Friday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to the Cancer Council of Ellis County or to the TMP-Marian Alumni Association, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.