DR. JOHN RUSSELL EUGENE HOOVER

John R.E. Hoover, 95, son of Jason Eberly Hoover and Hattie Miller Hoover, passed away at home in Glenside, Pa., with his family on Tuesday, Sept. 1 1, 2020. He was born in New Enterprise, Pa., in 1925. John was the youngest of seven children: Lawrence Clarise Hoover, Elizabeth Burket, Laura Mae Raffensperger and Genevieve Smith Leckrone. Two other siblings, David and Mary, died in early childhood.

John met his life-mate and spouse, Janet Louise Gochnour of Waterside, Pa., while in high school together, and they were married in 1945. They recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.

John graduated from Replogle High School in 1942, then served two years in the U.S. Army in the Philippines during World War II. After being honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant with six service medals, he completed his studies at Juniata College, graduating in 1947 with a B.S in Chemistry. He attended The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia where he received his M.S. degree and his Ph.D in organic chemistry in 1953.

After graduating from Penn, Dr. Hoover obtained a position at Wyeth Institute of Applied Biochemistry as a senior scientist, while at the same time working at Penn as a research assistant. There he worked alongside Nobel Prize winner Richard Kuhn with whom he co-authored several papers. In 1956, John moved the family to Glenside, Pa., near Philadelphia and was hired by Smith Kline & French Laboratories where he worked for 30 years, retiring as "Director of Research Chemistry" at the age of 62.

Dr. Hoover designed and patented a laboratory device manufactured by Arthur H. Thomas Scientific called the Thomas-Hoover Melting Point Apparatus which determined the melting point of compounds. The device is still used many decades later in university and commercial laboratories all over the world.

In the course of his work, Dr. Hoover has logged some 77 patents to his name, mostly in organic chemistry. While at SK&F, his research was primarily focused on cephalosporin antibiotics. Dr. Hoover also published work on his research, including sections in chemistry reference books.

He was a member of the American Chemical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Institute of Chemists, New York Academy of Science, Sigma Xi, Alpha Chi Sigma and Philadelphia Organic Chemists' Club.

John and Janet were highly respected members of the Church of the Brethren. Their memberships started at Koontz Church of the Brethren and Waterside Church of the Brethren in Morrisons Cove, Pa. When they moved to Philadelphia, they became members of the Philadelphia First Church of the Brethren where John and Janet held many positions including deacon, board secretary, board chairman, and moderator.

A private burial was held in the Koontz Church cemetery beside his childhood church just a few miles from his birthplace in New Enterprise.

John is survived by his wife Janet, his children Carol Johnston (David) of Oreland, Pa., Larry Hoover of Wilmington, Del., and Karen Quinn (David) of Roslyn, Pa .; nine grand children; and 10 great-grand children.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in John's memory to the Bedford County Democrats at bedfordcoutydems.org.

A full biography of John's life can be see on the website of the Craft Funeral Home of Erdenheim, Pa., http://www.craftfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/john-russell-eugene-hoover/