Ruth Hoover

Ruth (Clark) Hoover passed away peacefully on October 3, 2025 in Naples, FL. Ruth was born January 5, 1928 in St. Louis, MO, the much doted upon daughter of Hugh and Hattie Scudder and little sister of Earl and Lucille. She grew up in Des Moines, IA, graduated from Roosevelt High School and went on to attend Drake University, earning her B.A. in Business. At Drake, Ruth was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and in 1946, she was chosen to be Drake's Homecoming Queen, a reflection on her popularity and impact on others, especially the newly returned GI's. It was at Drake where she met the love of her life, Robert "Bob" Clark and they married in 1948. After Bob graduated from Drake Law School they moved to Bob's hometown of Rockford, IL where he established a very successful law practice and Ruth involved herself in community and social activities and was a superstar stay-at-home Mom to Bobby and Janet. She and Bob loved to play golf, dance any time they had the chance, go fishing at Dairymen's, engage in very competitive card games and socialize with a huge network of close friends including the Fishing Group, the Hemlock Lane Neighborhood Friends and so many others that they both loved and cherished. In 1986, Bob passed away unexpectedly and after recovering from her broken heart, Ruth married Ray Nihan the following year. Ruth and Ray enjoyed several years together as snowbirds in Rockford and Naples, FL, playing lots of golf and traveling as much as they could until Ray passed away in 1996. In 2000, Ruth married Dr. J. Guy Hoover of Evansville, IN and Naples, FL and she and Guy divided their time between those two cities and especially loved living on the beach in Pelican Bay and spending time with friends and family. After Guy's passing in 2008, Ruth became a full-time resident of Naples.

To those who knew her, Ruth was an incredibly dynamic person whose feisty, spirited personality was so much larger than her diminutive size. She was smart, funny, creative, generous and was a fierce competitor at all things, particularly golf, bridge, and gin rummy and pitch games with her husbands and her kids. The greatest joys of Ruth's life were the special times she spent with her family, especially her "Fab Five" grandchildren who will forever remember and adore their "Gigi" and the times they were able to spend with her. Her passing leaves a huge hole in all of our hearts.

During her lifetime, Ruth was a member (and past president) of the Rockford Woman's Club, the Junior League of Rockford, Rockford Country Club, the University Club, Moorings County Club and Dairymen's, Inc.

Ruth is survived by her son Robert (Renee) Clark and daughter Janet (David) Holmgren; grandchildren Peter Holmgren, Eric (Elana) Holmgren, Robert (Stephanie) Clark, Lindsey (Brandon) Dombrowski, and Thomas (Andrea) Clark; great-grandchildren Tynne, Coco, Jimmy, Lucas, Dillon, Jaxson, Hayden, Tyler, Nolan and Emma; former daughter-in-law Nancy Clark Jurek; numerous nieces and nephews and dear friend Millie Lindblade Klemp. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; infant brother Roy; brother and sister-in-law Earl and Juliette Scudder; sister and brother-in-law Lucille and John Quiner; brother-in-law and sisters-in law Harry and Leila and Fran Clark. The family wants to express special thanks to Laurie Wheeler and the staff at the Carlisle for the wonderful, loving care that they provided to Ruth.

A time to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. at which time her family will honor her by sharing stories and memories. This will be held in Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Following that, Ruth’s celebration will continue at the University Club where a luncheon will be served.

If you wish to honor Ruth's life, she loved and welcomed flowers, the more colorful the better! In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rockford Woman's Club,

Send condolences and share memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.