Jim Hoover passed away March 3, 2025 at the age of 86 with his family by his
side.
He was born February 2, 1939 to the late Harris and Dorothy (Boyer) Hoover. He
was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Camp Hill, PA. Jim
graduated from West Shore High School in 1957. He married his high school
sweetheart Sandra Binkley on May 28, 1960. Upon graduation from Delaware
Valley University in 1961, he went to work for Quaker Oats as a feed salesman.
In the early 1970s, he was working at a small feed mill in Mechanicsburg where
he began his dream of owning his own farm. So, in 1972, Hoover’s Turkey Farm
was created in Newport. With expansion over the years, Jim grew the operation
to include numerous poultry houses, feed mill with grain storage, shop for
equipment repairs and briefly raised other livestock. At its peak, Hoover’s Turkey
Farm was raising over 100,000 turkeys a year and farming over 1,200 acres of
field crops. Hoover’s Turkey Farm was one of the first in Perry County to enter
into ag-preservation in 2003.In the early 1980s, Jim and Sandra proudly helped
their son Craig and wife Jill start their turkey farm - C&J Farms on the adjoining
farm. In the early 1990s, Jim and Sandra also proudly helped their daughter
Stacey and husband Mark start their operation- Butcher’s Farm Market. In 1987,
Jim and Sandra had one of their proudest moments when they were named one
of Pennsylvania’s Master Farmers. Jim was also awarded the Distinguished
Alumni Award from Delaware Valley University in 2022. Jim served on the
Newport School District School Board in the mid-1980s.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife Sandra of 47 years, his brother Russell
N. Hoover, sister-in-law Marilyn, Father-in-law David Binkley (wife Grace). Jim is
survived by his son Craig Hoover (Jill), daughter Stacey Butcher (Mark),
grandsons Dylan and Mason Hoover, great grandchildren Alivia Hoover, Z. Will
Hoover, brother-in-law David Binkley II (Don) and special friend Sally
Bomgardner. The Family would like to thank the staff of Valley View Retirement
Community for the loving care of our beloved Jim.
A memorial service will be held on March 15 th at Highland Presbyterian Church
11 Church Road, Newport PA at 11:00a.m. Visitation from 10a.m. to 11a.m. In
lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to: Grace Evangelical
Lutheran Church, 1610 Carlisle Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011.