Ralph Marshall Hoover, Jr.

Ralph “Spooky” Hoover was born a day before Halloween in Statesville, NC. He was the oldest of four children in his family. He loved growing up in Statesville and was proud of his Alma Mater, Statesville High School, home of the Greyhounds.

Ralph excelled in sports, playing baseball, basketball, and football for the Greyhounds. He was a city lifeguard for 12 years. After high school, Ralph attended Mitchell Community College, played football for Elon University, and graduated from East Tennessee State University. He later coached high school football, taught civics and physical education, and was well-liked by his students and players.

Ralph worked for Squibb Pharmaceuticals and Elba Systems Corporation before he found his calling in publishing and photography. Starting from a hand-built darkroom in his basement, Ralph and his wife Nancy (Dellinger) built a very successful real estate magazine in their adopted hometown of Clemmons, NC. Ralph took thousands of photos for Homes & Land Magazines of Winston-Salem and Raleigh. He photographed head shots for realtors, took hundreds of photos of people’s pets and wild animals that he encountered on the job, and taught himself Photoshop to help enhance his photography skills. The driving he did for his work gave him an unbelievable sense of direction; if you called him from anywhere between Statesville and Raleigh, he could tell you where you were and how to get where you needed to go.

Ralph was a lifelong fan of the Redskins, Braves, and Tar Heels. He loved beach music and took years of shag lessons with Nancy. Ralph was also an avid golfer who achieved every golfer’s goal of hitting a hole-in-one. He built Cedar Pointe Golf Center, a driving range and pro shop, where he welcomed friends and avid golfers. He enjoyed driving the ball picker around the range so that golfers could aim at his enclosed golf cart.

Turning back to real estate, he learned how to film virtual home tours as marketing houses online began to take off. He also started helping Nancy with catering events for realtors. Always up for a challenge, at the age of 70, he decided to get his commercial real estate license.

Ralph was predeceased by his parents, Ralph Marshall Hoover, Sr. and Eva Nell Pope Hoover. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Nancy Dellinger Hoover; daughter Kelly Gunzenhauser (Eric); son David Hoover; and his two grandchildren, Casey Gunzenhauser and Reid Gunzenhauser, of whom he was extremely proud. He is also survived by his three younger siblings: Johnny Hoover, Gene Hoover, and Kay Nicholas.

Dad, all of your “sports fans” will miss your warmth and generosity, your constant enthusiasm, your booming voice, and your sense of humor. It’s truly been “a slice of heaven.”

The family will receive visitors at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel in Advance, on Saturday, August 23 from 3:00—5:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Senior Services of Winston-Salem, or St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.