Thomas E. Hoover, Sr. , age 71 of Elwood, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, April 4, 2025 at his home.  He was born October 3, 1953 in Muncie the son of Kenneth and Mary (Langley) Hoover.  Tom was a 1971 graduate of Madison Heights High School.  He retired in 2017 from O/I Brockway Glass in Lapel where he worked for 45 years in maintenance.  Tom was a member of the Ratnuts Car Club in Anderson, loved going to car shows, and even helped build a racecar.  He married Merri Rhoden on September 20, 2002 and spent more than 22 years of marriage together.  Tom enjoyed helping anyone in need and sharing his knowledge, especially of fixing cars.  He was a very intelligent man, but also full of mischievous jokes.  Tom was known to have cars parked in front of his home, and during Christmas time he would put a Santa in his 1960 Chevrolet.  More than anything, Tom will be remembered as strong-willed man who would do anything for anyone.

Tom's family includes his wife, Merri Hoover of Elwood; 2 sons, Thomas (Julie) Hoover, Jr. of Fishers, and Tim (April) Hoover of Anderson; step-daughter, Tracy (Brent) Bushue of Dierich, IL; 6 siblings, Danny (Dee) Runyan of Oklahoma, Evelyn Fosnot of Anderson, Betty (Larry) Brickner of Florida, Bruce (Joyce) Runyan of Oklahoma, Jane McMillian of Anderson, and David Arbuckle of Kentucky; 9 grandchildren, Whitney (Blake) Sobieralski, Carling Deehr, Elijah Hoover, Conner Hoover, Andrew (Isabel) Hoover, Zack (Paige) Bushue, Chyenne Spitzer, and Baylee (Kedric) Nees; 2 great-grandsons, Shane Sobieralski, and Maverick Hoover; and several nieces and nephews.  Tom was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Hoover; mother, Mary (Langley) Runyan; step-father, Richard "Dick" Runyan; and sister, Carllena May Cassell.

A graveside funeral service celebrating Tom's life will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Enon-Ashmore Baptist Church Cemetery in Ashmore, IL.  Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood, IN is honored to handle Tom's local arrangements.  Tom's services in Illinois are being handled by Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston, IL.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at copherfeslermay.com.