The Life of Valarie L. Hoover
Valarie Lee Hoover, age 66, died peacefully on January 28, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 17, 1957 in Des Moines, Iowa to Delbert Lee and Marilyn Coe.
Valarie graduated from Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1975. She enlisted as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy in 1977. While stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico, she met the love of her life, Jim Hoover, on a blind date. They were married in 1978 and spent the next 45 years together raising their four daughters and a menagerie of family pets with love, adventure, and laughter.
After leaving the Navy in 1979, Valarie worked as a phlebotomist before leaving the workforce to become a stay-at-home mom for several years in Colorado. After the family moved to Virginia, she returned to work as a phlebotomist at the Salem VA Medical Center, where she would spend the next 27 years in various roles before retiring as the information system security officer in 2021.
Valarie was a whimsical spitfire whose small stature belied a huge personality. Living on the Micronesian island of Chuuk as a teenager gave her a permanent yearning for the island life. She also loved The Wizard of Oz, the Denver Broncos, Diet Dr. Pepper, dancing, John Denver, the Peanuts, singing, and her daily coffee cookies. Her friends looked forward to her daily coffee memes on Facebook. Her kindness and extraordinary work ethic earned her many friends, from housekeeping staff to executives, during her years working at the VA. But despite her stellar professional reputation, Valarie would likely define herself most by her love for her family. She and Jim lived a full life, guiding their daughters through joy and sorrow, and teaching them that families stick together when times are tough. Her stories were legendary, and her ability to laugh at herself was endlessly endearing. She was a trusted friend and substitute mother to many.
Valarie was predeceased by her father, Delbert Lee; mother, Marilyn Eckelbarger; stepfather, Paul Eckelbarger; sister, Debbie Spiegle; and brother-in-law, Bob Bailey.
She is survived by her husband; her daughters, Lorie Strong (Seth), Ginny Hoover, Sammi Hoover (Jeff Camp), and Jamie Hoover; granddaughter, Niomi Kaiser (Adrian Moral); granddogs, Rosie Strong and Charlie Hoover; and grandcats, Maggie Strong and Zuko Hoover. Other survivors include her mom, Delores Lee; siblings, Vicky Lee, Dell Lee (Annette Boswell), and Pamela Burnette; and sisters-in-law, Judy Bailey, Pat St. Clair (Gary), and Jan Waldron (Mike). Many other beloved family members and friends grieve her loss with us.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9 with visitation one hour prior at Oakey’s South Chapel, 4257 Brambleton Avenue, Roanoke, VA, 24018. A private graveside service will follow. Donations in Valarie’s memory can be made to Good Samaritan Hospice.
The family extends its deepest gratitude for the compassionate care Valarie received from the staff at the Salem VA Medical Center, Blue Ridge Cancer Care, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, and Good Samaritan Hospice.