Homer Richard Hoving's Obituary
Homer Hoving, the quiet man who never spoke an unkind word about anyone, enjoyed a life well lived; checking off his bucket list at every turn.Homer was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Richard and Victoria Hoving, an only child of Dutch and Czech heritage. He graduated from Harrison Tech High School in 1948, and from the University of Illinois, BSEE 1952. His career was in the Aerospace Industry, initially at McDonald Douglas in Southern California, then Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Sunnyvale, CA, as Manager, Guidance & Controls, Space Systems Technology, until taking early retirement in 1981. Family dubbed him “Rocket Man”.Homer was a proud and accomplished member of SOKOL (a Czech gymnastics organization) for many years as a youth and young adult. To help cover college costs, he and a few good buddies formed the “Moon Dodgers” (a 166’ high act with bars, rings and a sway pole, and NO NET!), performing at various State Fairs. The crowning glory was being billed as the featured act at Soldier Field in his hometown, ‘Chi-Town’.Homer was also a happy, card-carrying member of the Claypipers from the first year to the last (1959-1994); for many of those years as a song and dance man in the olios of that ‘melodrama’ theatrical group. And, ooohhh, how that man could dance! ‘Tripping the light fantastic’ through the years, he and his Joyceebabe were affectionately (and humorously) called Marge & Gower Champion runners-up. Homer filled his life with music, playing accordion, piano, and a bit of bass, and singing in the Peninsulaires Barbershop Choir. He also kept fit on tennis courts and ski slopes. Grinning, he would quote one of his heroes with Jean-Claude Killy’s Olympic-winning comment, “It was not too deefeecult.”Homer was also a small-aircraft pilot … up-up-and away into the wild blue yonder of our western states, Canada, and Mexico. He also so enjoyed the camaraderie of all the guys in the Sunnyvale Service and Athletic Club; serving as treasurer for many years. And he loved his bigga boata in partnership with four dear friends. ‘She’ was christened “Cunardly” … as in cunardly maneuver her, dock her or pay for her! Decades of travel took him throughout the world, as well as this beautiful, diverse United States of America he was so proud to call home. He absorbed it all and life in general, unjaded, with an insatiable curiosity.Homer truly treasured his friends and family, and all the sweet memories. He was, indeed, one of the good guys, and a devoted, loving husband, dad and grampa of the first magnitude to Joyce, his wife of 45 years, and the lights-of-his-life children and grandchildren … Richard Hoving, Deb (Eric) Rohzen, and Ashley and Brandon Rohzen.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Homer never left his ‘wingman’So much laughter, so many tears, so much love for so many years * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Homer said goodbye as simply as he lived, “I am 83 years old. I have had a wonderful life. I am OK with this.“
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