Ruth L. Grove, a lifelong resident of the Hagerstown, MD area passed away January 20, 2021
dauntlessly battling a debilitating illness. Born Ruth LuVene Martin, April 30, 1932 at 516
George Street, Hagerstown, MD, she was Tom Martin and Mary Rowe Martin’s first child. She
lived on George Street with her beloved grandparents Charles and Ruth Russell until she was
about 12 years old when she moved in with her parents, sister Sue and brother Tom at 122 High
Street. She was captain of patrol (crossing guard) at Winter Street Elementary School. She
attended Washington Street School and graduated from Hagerstown High School in the
“Academic Girls” group in 1950. Although her dream was to become a nurse, Ruth worked as an
operator for the phone company after she graduated from High School. Ruth married Ted Hoover
in 1951 and resided on High Street until Ted was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1953. The
couple moved to George Street and then to Lappans Crossroads in 1956. In 1963, Ruth became
a widow with 3 young children to support. She enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program in
Chambersburg, PA, which at that time only accepted single women. For the first time in its 12
years of existence, the program made an exception for Ruth and she achieved her dream a year
later and became a Licensed Practical Nurse at Chambersburg Hospital. Ruth was an exceptional
caregiver and used her gift throughout her life not only in her job but also in caring for family,
neighbors and friends. Ruth married Earl D. Grove in 1966, had a daughter, Krista, and they
spent 49 years together until his death in 2015. In the 1970s, Ruth was an active member of the
Washington County Homemakers Club entertaining audiences with the Rhythmettes, her poetry
and comedy routines. A life-long gardener, Ruth loved to share her flowers and her love of
nature with her family through the generations. Her many talents included flower arranging,
decorative painting, poetry, and crafts. After spending a decade as a full-time mother and house
wife, Ruth returned to work in the 1980s as a nurse at the Potomac Center then worked as a
Paraprofessional for Washington County Board of Education at the Job Development Center
with special needs students from 1989 until she retired in 2008.
Ruth was predeceased by her parents Tom and Mary Martin, husbands Ted C. Hoover and Earl
D. Grove, and her son Ted C. Hoover, Jr. Left to cherish her memory are her three daughters
Mary Jo Hoover Britner, Lisa Hoover Keppner, and Krista Grove Shea Anderson; daughter-in-
law Deborah Deneen Hoover Cross Banner; six grandchildren Jonathan (Trisha) Britner, Nathan
(Kristina) Hoover-Cross, Justin (Chelsea) Cross, Joli Ruth Blair, Kielen Shea and Eric Anderson;
six great-grandchildren Aubrey Davis, Connor Cross, Jordan Blair, Lincoln Cross, Cameron
Cross and McKinley Cross; sister Dolores “Sue” Mauck and brother Tom B. Martin; extended
family and many friends.
Whether you knew her as Peachie, Ruth, Martin, Hoover, Mrs. Grove, Mom, Peep, Grammy or
Teeta, you knew her to be a caring, honest, thoughtful, strong-minded person who enjoyed
looking her best and adding that special little touch to everything she did to make others smile.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there will not be a memorial service. Those wishing to honor
Ruth’s life may send memorial contributions to Hospice of Washington County. Condolences
may be expressed at www.harmanfuneral.com/listings.