Barbara Yvonne Hoover

Barbara Y. Hoover, age 89, of Warsaw, passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughters at Miller’s at Oak Pointe on April 6, 2026. She was born on January 28, 1937, in Laona, Wisconsin to Everett & Evalyn (Hubbard) Underwood. She was the 6th of 8 children. She married Clifford Lloyd Hoover on August 26, 1961, in St. John Lutheran Church in Laona, Wisconsin. They moved to Warsaw, Indiana in April of 1969. They divorced after 23 years of marriage.

Barbara dedicated her life to caring for others. She was a childcare provider for over 50 years. She has held in her arms hundreds of children over the years. Many of the children became family to her. She was also known for delicious baking and being a great cook. Birthday cakes, wedding cakes, pumpkin rolls, banana bread and her famous frosted sugar cookies were just a small portion of the baked goods that came out of her kitchen. Some of her family’s favorite meals were her chili, ham salad, potato salad, goulash and dirt pudding.

Faith and serving others was a hallmark of Barbara’s life. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Laona, Wisconsin, and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Warsaw for 15 years. She has been a member of Pathway Church, formally Warsaw Wesleyan Church, since 1988. At Pathway Church, she found many ways to serve others and share the love of God. She was a volunteer in the Helping Hands Ministry for years, loved greeting at the church doors and at the welcome center. She was on the church hospitality committee, served coffee between church services, helped with funeral dinners, loved on children in the nursery and taught Sunday School to three-year-olds. She led the B. Y. F (Best Years Fellowship) carry-ins for years, was part of many church dramas, joined missions’ outreach to inner-cities, served on the Servant Evangelism Ministry, was a part of Women of Grace ladies ministry and WOW Life Group.

Barbara also served the Warsaw community as a volunteer of the Kosciusko Community Senior Activity Center since the age of 60. She was a member of The Red Hat Society, sang with the Melloaires Community Choir, was involved with Kosciusko Silent No More Organization, volunteered in the concession stand at Warsaw Little League and served in the community soup kitchen. Barbara was nominated for the Kosciusko County Community Foundation Heart of Gold Award for her volunteer service in 2005. Barbara also found pleasure in reading, bird watching, going on nature road trips, shopping with her daughters and attending the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family brought immense joy to her life.

Barbara is survived by her 5 daughters, Dawn (Dave) Montgomery of Fishers, Indiana, Carol Martin, Lisa (Areck) Lyon, Sherri (Roger) Hill and Bonnie (Garry) Phillips, all of Warsaw. Barbara was a cherished grandmother to 17 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren: Joshua Boxell, Rachel Terry, Melissa Hamilton, Kyle (Nicole) Hamilton, Elisabeth (Matt) Aguilar, Micah (Kylie) Aguilar, Brooklyn (Kile) Hogg, Aleah Lyon, Phillip (Sara) Hoover, Nicholas (Sarah) Hill, Allison Hill, Daytona (Taylor) Hill, Brystal (Tristan) Hill, Abi Hill, Liem Hill, Logan (Ashley) Phillips, Carter (Leslie) Phillips, Kayla Donahue and Kyle Lyon. She also had 19 great-grandchildren with one on the way and two 2 step great-grandchildren. She is also survived by 3 sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. She was greeted in heaven by her parents, 4 sisters, 3 brothers, 2 grandsons: Robbie and Mario Aguilar, a great-grandson, Bradley Harrell, and son-in-law Richard Martin.

McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel is entrusted with the care of Barbara. Friends may join her family for her viewing on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw. Services will be held on Friday, April 10th, 2026, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Samantha Freds officiating. She will be laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.

Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara’s memory to Pathway Church, 2402 W. Old Road 30, Warsaw 46580, or Kosciusko Community Senior Activity Center, 800 North Park Ave., Warsaw, 46580.

Special thanks to Miller’s at Oak Pointe and to Stillwater Hospice for all the care they provided for Barbara during the last 3 months of her life.