Hoover, Edgar

Edgar W. Hoover, 89, of Fancy Prairie passed away February 12, 2014 in Springfield.

He was born May 10, 1924 in Milton, Illinois, to Neil J. and Frances (Clugston) Hoover, and married Barbara Lee Engle on October 30, 1948 in Argenta, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Barbara; brother, Neil E.; daughter, Michelle; and daughter-in-law, Leann Hoover.

He is survived by his daughter Deborah (Paul) Rasch of Fancy Prairie, Illinois, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; son Stephen (Carrie) Hoover of Littleton, Illinois; granddaughters Gillian and Amanda Rasch; grandsons Jordan, Kerry (Kelcyn), and Cody Hoover; sister Joan Woodworth of Rushville, Illinois; sister-in-law Lillian Hoover of Camden, Illinois; brother-in-law Kenneth (Kay) Engle of Henry, Illinois; and an extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Ed graduated from Augusta High School, Augusta, Illinois. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor. Assigned to the 748th Engineering Company, he served in Europe until VE Day, in the Pacific until VJ Day, and attained the rank of Sergeant. Following discharge he attended Western Illinois University where he met and married Barbara, but also remained active in the Illinois Air National Guard. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, and served his country for another three years as a member of the U.S. Air Force.

Returning to Springfield in 1952, he entered the electronics field with Gothard Electric. Ed subsequently held positions with U.S. Electric, Sangamo Electric, and Dickey-John Corporation before beginning work as an electrician at Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois at Springfield); he retired from UIS in 1989 after 20 years of service. After retirement Ed volunteered his services to the Physics Department at Western Illinois University, working for several years on a number of projects including the construction of WIU’s linear accelerator.

A man of endless curiosity and diverse interests, he was a 65 year member of the Masonic fraternity, a 50 year member of the Athens-Fancy Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, a private pilot, an amateur radio operator, and a Boy Scout Leader as well as an amateur inventor and inveterate tinkerer.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, one of Ed’s favorite causes.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 until 5:00 PM on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at Mott & Henning Funeral Home in Athens and where funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, February 17, 2014. Burial will be held at Roseville Memorial Cemetery in Roseville, IL.