It is with deep love and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Ruth Eileen (Conolly) Hoover. She left this world on September 8th, 2026, at her home in San Diego, California. Ruth passed peacefully in her sleep, under Hospice Care, surrounded by her family. She had just achieved her 100th birthday a week earlier on September 1st, 2026. She celebrated her centennial with ballons, flowers, ice cream cake and many well wishes from family and friends.

Ruth was born on September 1st, 1926 in Richmond, Indiana, where she spent most of her life.  Her kindness, strength, and unwavering devotion touched countless lives. She was an adoring wife, loving mother, and a cherished friend. Her ever-present laughter brightened all our lives. Ruth's positive spirit and joy of life was an encouragement to everyone who knew her.  She was still softly singing hymns and telling everyone how wonderful and beautiful they were, up until the very end.

She graduated from Richmond High School in Richmond, Indiana in 1944. Ruth was active in Student Council, Girl Reserves, Choir and Block R. She worked 30 years for Richmond Community Schools serving as a teacher aide at Hibberd and Southview, school secretary at Garrison and Test and administrative assistant to four superintendents. Ruth retired in 1996.

Ruth was active in many community and church activities over the years: PTA (President), Cub Scouts, Brownie Leader, school room mother, League of Women Voters, Red Cross and United Way drives, Magazine Club, Richmond Community Schools Secretaries Association (President), Tri Kappa and Gamma Associate Member (President), Stevens Ministry, Book Study, Bible Study Fellowship and Richmond Community Schools Study Buddy Program.

Throughout her life, she embraced every role with grace — nurturing her children, supporting her community, and inspiring others through her generosity, compassion and support. She believed in the power of faith, the importance of love, the value of family, and the beauty of simple moments: a shared meal, a warm hug. Ruth was an avid reader on a wide variety of subjects and extensively journaled many of her thoughts and observations. She also delighted in listening to music, especially live concerts. She enjoyed American songbook and inspirational music, musical theater and the Richmond and Indianapolis Symphonies. She was a particularly fond of Christian singer Sandi Patty and an ardent fan of special family friend, Maestro, Jack Everly.

She is survived by her children; Gary Hoover, Jack Hoover and Patricia Hoover, all of San Diego, California, who will carry her memory in their hearts forever.  Ruth is also survived by cousin, Carol (Hawkins) Ray of Centerville,  Indiana.

Ruth was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 65 years, Donald Hoover, her father, Raymond Conolly, mother, Ruth (Powell) Conolly (who passed 27 days after giving birth), her grandfather, John Conolly and grandmother, Pearl (Gibson) Conolly (who raised her), brother, Jack Conolly, aunts, Maude "Irene" (Conolly) Dunkel and Lorraine (Conolly) Hawkins, Uncle, Virgil Conolly.

Ruth's cremated remains will be combined with those of her husband and interred in the main mausoleum at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond, Indiana. A celebration of her life will be held at First United Methodist Church of San Diego, 2111 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108, where friends and family will gather to honor her legacy. The date and time have yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following organizations, reflecting her lifelong commitment to helping others:

• - Central United Methodist Church, 1425 East Main Street, Richmond, IN 47374
• - Richmond Symphony Orchestra, 400 Hub Etchison Pkwy, Richmond, IN 47374
• - Friends Fellowship Community, 2030 Chester Blvd, Richmond, IN 47374
• - Morrisson-Reeves Library, 80 N 6th St, Richmond, IN 47374
• - Reid Memorial Hospital, 1100 Reid Pkwy, Richmond, IN 47374
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Her love was a gift, her presence a blessing, and her absence leaves a space that can never be filled. We will miss her dearly, but her spirit will live on in every act of kindness, every shared smile, and every cherished memory.