William C. Hoover

William C. “Bill” Hoover, 90, of Monmouth died at 11:47 p.m. Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Monmouth Nursing Home.

He was born May 13, 1924 in Kelly Twp., Warren Co. IL the son of D. Clay and Minnie (Swanson) Hoover.  He was raised and educated in in Mercer and Warren Counties, graduating from Alexis High School in 1942.  He attended Monmouth College and while there enlisted in the Army Reserves on Oct. 13, 1942 and was called to active duty on Feb. 22, 1943.

Bill received Basic training at Camp Roberts in CA and in December 1943 went to Hawaii where he was assigned to the Anti-Tank Co. of the 165^th Infantry Regiment (The Fightin 69^th N. GA Unit from New York).  Bill participated in the invasions of Saipan and Okinawa and was seated to invade Japan. Bill always said that, “President Harry Truman saved my life with the Atomic Bomb.”

Following his discharge from the US Army in January 1946 Bill attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago and came to Monmouth to work at Lugg Memorial Chapel on Jan. 1, 1947 and later Lugg & Holliday Memorial Chapel. 

Bill married Dorothy Strong in Monmouth on July 11, 1947 and she died Jan. 18, 2009.

After the death of Lugg & Holliday in November and December of 1951 Bill bought an interest in Lugg Memorial Chapel with Bernice Holliday and her sons, Bill and John Holliday.  He purchased the remainder of the funeral home in 1965 and ran Holliday & Hoover Memorial Chapel at 207 N. Main until he built Hoover Memorial Chapel at 900 N. Main in 1974.   Bill purchased the former McKnight Funeral Home in Alexis in 1978 and opened Hoover Memorial Chapel in Oquawka in 1979.  He retired in 1992.  Bill also served as Warren County Coroner from 1972 until 1992.

He was a member of Faith United Presbyterian Church, Monmouth American Legion Post #136, Monmouth VFW Post #2301 and several Fraternal Organizations.

Survivors include his daughter, Deborah A. (David) Hill of Hilton Head, South Carolina; grandsons, William M. (Kari E.) Hall of Bettendorf, IA, Brian A. (Sarah A.) Hall of Monmouth; 6 great grandchildren; Alexa D. Hall, Madelyn K. Hall, Daxten W. Hall, Hudsen K. Hall, Bryson C. Hall and Aubrey L. Hall; and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and sister, Hazel Gustafson.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, February 19, 2015 at Faith United Presbyterian Church, Monmouth.  Burial will be in Warren County Memorial Park.  Friends may call Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at McGuire & Davies Funeral Home where his family will be present from 5:00-7:00 p.m..  Memorials may be given to Faith United Presbyterian Church or to Western Illinois Animal Rescue.  Arrangements are being handled by McGuire & Davies Funeral Home and Crematory, Monmouth.  Online condolences may be left at www.mcguireanddaviesfuneralhome.com.