Elizabeth Hoover Obituary

Elizabeth Bickel Hoover, age 92, of Goshen, previously of Fort Wayne, passed away peacefully October 4, 2023, in Goshen. Born July 30, 1931, in Souderton, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Asher and Viola (Bickel) Souder. Elizabeth was an extremely bright student and hard-working. She completed her high school education at Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg, Virginia, then attended Eastern Mennonite College before going to Grand View Hospital School of Nursing in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, where she graduated top of her class as a registered nurse. While in nursing school, Elizabeth was introduced, by mail, to Joseph Hoover and a month later they met in person. They were married in December 1956 in Pennsylvania. They lived in Newton, Kansas, while Joe completed his alternative service, and moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he began medical school at Northwestern University. They settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Joe practiced medicine as a family physician. Elizabeth was a dedicated wife and loving mother and grandmother. She also served in husband Joe's medical practice, including working at the office as a nurse. Elizabeth deeply enjoyed the arts. As a young woman she sang with the Finland Girls quartet at evangelistic meetings and was a member of the Voice of Youth choir. Later she helped lead worship at First Mennonite Church in Fort Wayne and sang in the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Choir. She excelled at oil painting and her works inspire today. She was a member of College Mennonite Church in Goshen. She had a quiet faith in Jesus and spent time daily in Bible and devotional reading. Liz was a mighty prayer warrior and an inspiration to her family and anyone who knew her. She is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Hoover, and by her youngest brother, James Souder. She is survived by her three children and their spouses: Lisa and David Hnath, Albert and Susan (Lew) Hoover, and Tina and Jeff Dahlseid; ten grandchildren: Elizabeth, Sarah, and Michael Hnath; Saryn and husband Jonathan Dietz, Shaley and husband Javier Espinosa, Shanler and husband Nick Flabiano, and Sheridan Hoover; and Aidan, Liam, and Rowan Dahlseid; also seven great grandchildren: Sevy, Susette and Secile Espinosa; Hudson, Sterling and Holden Dietz; and Sistine Flabiano; brother, Gerald Souder, and sister, Doris (Souder) Morgan; plus many nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral arrangements are as follows: Celebration of Life Service at Goshen College Mennonite Church, 1pm Wednesday, October 11, 2023. 1900 South Main St. , Goshen, Indiana 46526In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Goshen College to the Joseph R. and Elizabeth B. Hoover Scholarship Fund, 1700 S. Main Street Goshen, IN 46526.