Obituary: John Richard (Bud) Hoop Jr.

John Richard (Bud) Hoop Jr. quietly passed away March 29, 2010, at Bridgeview Estates in Twin Falls, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Ruth, in October 2008.They were married for 59 years. He is also preceded in death by his brother, William, and sisters Dorothy Roberts and Thelma Taylor.

John was born on March 19, 1923, on a farm in Wilmington, Ohio, to Nora Zell (Crothers) and John Richard Hoop Sr. During the 1930s he worked with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in Idaho. John joined the U.S. Army on Jan. 2, 1943, and was honorably discharged on Oct. 14, 1945. He served with General George Patton in the Company C 701st tank destroyer battalion. He received the EAME Theater Ribbon with four Bronze Stars and a Good Conduct Medal.

While visiting California, he met Martha Ruth Fisher on a blind date in Huntington Beach, Calif. They were married in January 1949 and had five children. They lived in Yuma, Prescott, Flagstaff, and Kingman, Ariz., as well as South San Gabriel, Temple City, Calif., and Jerome and Twin Falls, Idaho. John worked for the Department of the Army at the Yuma Test Station. He held various jobs from working as a mechanic, selling cars and tools, to owning and operating a towing service as well as a service station.

John and Martha belonged to the Model A Club of San Gabriel, Calif., in the '60s. He was the tour director for several years. He loved searching out and restoring old Model A's, including a green 1929 Roadster Pick-up, 1931 Model A Coupe and his two-tone brown 1930 Fordor Phaeton. He was a fan of baseball, car races, demolition derbies and country music. He loved his sheltie dogs.

He is survived by his brother, Wilbur (Ginny) Hoop of Mayer, Ariz., and sister Ruby Avery in Ohio. John is also survived by his five children, Joan (Terry) Lucas of Santa Ana, Calif., Maria (Jim) Kepner of Twin Falls, Idaho, Judy (Bob) Reynolds of West Richland, Wash., Carolyn Palmer of Twin Falls, Idaho, and John Richard Hoop III (Carla) of Kingman, Ariz. He is survived by eight grandchildren: Maggi (Jon) Fortner of Kimberly, Idaho, Sheri (Jos) Roach of Upland, Calif., Robert (Amy) Reynolds of Nampa, Idaho, Sarah (Michael) Danielson of Raleigh, N.C., Nikki (Bill) Barnes of Costa Mesa, Calif., Rickie Palmer of Albuquerque, N.M., Adam Kepner of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Virginia Reynolds of Twin Falls, Idaho. John is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Sylvia, Amy Joe and Nate Fortner, Kelsie, Kori and Carli Roach and Jesse Lucas Barnes.

His sense of humor and wit will be missed by all. We love you Dad!

At John's request, no formal services are scheduled. Arrangements are under the direction of Reynolds Funeral Chapel, Twin Falls, Idaho. Interment will be next to his wife at Sunset Memorial Park in Twin Falls. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Information provided by survivors.