Russell Wayne Hoover, 88, diedb Sunday January 6,2012 in the Washington hospital. He was born in Amwell Township on October 20, 1924, the only child of Russell L. and Anna Grable Hoover. He attended the Ridge School where he had the same teacher, Mrs. Louise Sowers the entire eight years. He graduated from Trinity High School in June 1942. Upon graduation enrolled in the National Youth Administration Training Center at South Park, where he became a certified air craft welder. On November 5 having reached the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a welder. He was sent to Aircraft Armament School and upon completion of that volunteered for aerial gunnery training which he received at Wendover Air force Base in Utah. Upon graduation he was assigned to a 10 man air crew abroad a 4 engine Liberator Bomber. He flew 50 missions as a ball turret gunner with the Fifth Bomb Group of the 13th (Jungle) Air Force, based in Guadalcanal, New Georgia and the Admiralty Islands. He was awarded the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the good Conduct Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign medal. Upon return to the US he enrolled in Central Instructors School in Laredo Texas where he became a turret instructor and was discharged October 10, 1945 with the rank of staff sergeant. When opportunity permitted, he also played trumpet in the Ten Mile Community Band, which he enjoyed very much. He also enrolled in a flying course as Civil Air Aviation in Waynesburg in 1947 and obtained a Private Pilot's license. He went to work for the Drakenfeld Company in November 1945 and remained with them until 1959 when he went to the Postal Service, retiring from there in 1987. On August 30, 1947 he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Wilda Conkle at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Glyde. His wife died September 24, 1989. Surviving are three daughters, Rebecca Gurbal, Melanie (John) Maskovich, and Beth (Joseph) Hewitt. Four Grandchildren Michael, David, Cheyenne and Dakoda. Three great grandchildren. Ashley, Michael, and Joshua and one great-great granddaughter. McKenna. His Fiancée, Opal Pierson with whom he enjoyed the last 21 years of his life. Deceased in addition to his wife and parents are daughters, Melinda and Kimberly who died in infancy and a son-in law, David Gurbal who died January 2012. He was a charter member of the Grace Brethren Church of Washington, where he had held the offices of vice moderator, treasurer, deacon, trustee, Sunday school superintendent, and teacher. In 2001, he underwent extensive cancer surgery which somewhat diminished his activities. Prior to that time he had enjoyed traveling, dining out, photography and his garden. He also enjoyed playing his guitar and very knowledgeable in the civil war and visited several battle fields. He was a member of American Legion Paso Del Norte Post 58 in El Paso, Texas and the North Ten Mile Veterans association. He will be sadly missed by his family and all who knew and loved him. Family and friends will be received on Thursday 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. in the Nichol Funeral Home, 1873 East Maiden Street, Washington, PA. Additional visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. Friday January 11, 2013 in the Grace Brethren Church, Washington where funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. with Pastor Bob Kulp. Interment will follow in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery, Glyde, PA. On line guestbook may be signed at www.nicholfuneralhome.com