Virginia Hoover

Virginia Lee Hoover of Liberal, MO, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at age 91 on February 2, 2016, at the Girard Medical Center, Girard, KS. She was born Virginia Lee Rose on October 16, 1924 to Edward and Jessie Peterson Rose in Ontario, California. As the oldest of four children, she was a friend and assistant to her mother in raising the young Rose family during the great depression. Virginia often spoke of the time that she and Jessie spent working together as welders in the Portland, Oregon, shipyard during WWII. After the war ended, Virginia met Eugene (Gene) Leon Neuenschwander, who was working as a logger in the north west woods after his discharge from the Navy. Following their three-month courtship, they married on December 8, 1949. The young family moved to Gene's home state of Missouri after the birth of their first child. Virginia and Gene raised their family of four children in Clinton, Warrensburg and Liberal (all in Missouri) until Gene's death in 1971. Virginia then met Clifford Hoover through a mutual friend and they married on December 30, 1972. Virginia and Clifford raised her two teenaged children together and enjoyed their later adult years during their 43 year marriage. During her high school years, Virginia enjoyed learning Latin and always had a dictionary close at hand. She taught her children to tackle a new word with the advice to "look it up." Virginia loved to nurture growing, living things and had special interest in birds, animals and gardening. Her home was always filled with an assortment of potted plants and flowers. Virginia loved to fish and swim (a la Esther Williams), and she continued her enjoyment of bicycling throughout her life. Working with the women's group of Hannon Freewill Baptist Church was Virginia's special interest. With them, she helped raise funds for missionaries and sending children to church camp. She also participated actively in the Shiloh Club, a women's social group for neighbors in the Shiloh School area. Activities with her grandchildren were a special source of joy for her. Virginia is survived by her husband, Clifford Hoover, of Liberal; three children: Linda Rae Rose of Lansing, Michigan, Elaine Kay McAdams of Lamar, MO, and Edward Leon Neuenschwander of Diamond, MO; two grandchildren: Juli Anna (Glenn) Tanner of Millmont, PA, and Joshua Isaac (Megan Clements) McAdams of Fort Worth, TX; and four great-grandchildren: Aurora and Dominick Tanner, and James and Abrianna McAdams. She is pre-deceased by her brothers Eugene and Clyde Rose, her sister June Harkey (all of Washington and Oregon); her husband Eugene Neuenschwander of Deepwater, MO; and her daughter Anna Marie (Dale) Bowerman of Miller, MO.