Arthur Kimball Hovater – Obituary

by Lynn McMillen
0 comment

Arthur Kimball Hovater died peacefully at home on August 3, 2018. A native of Dothan, Alabama, he moved to Huntsville in 1962. He was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and received MSIE at Auburn University where he was a member of Alpha Pi Mu and Phi Kappa Phi, national scholastic honorary societies.

While on active duty with the U.S. Navy, he served aboard the U.S.S. Ticonderoga (CVA-14). Later, in the submarine service, he served on the U.S.S. Trutta and U.S.S. Barracuda. Following his service in the Navy, he worked for General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division, as a liaison between Electric Boat and the Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, NH for the construction of three nuclear attack class submarines.

He came to Huntsville to work for Brown Engineering Company (Teledyne Brown). After graduating from Auburn with his Masters of Engineering, he was employed by General Computer Services and surviving companies for 27 years. He was then instrumental in the startup of a consulting group, and in the 90’s he became an independent consultant, officially retiring in 2000.

In Huntsville, he was active in the Acme Club and the Huntsville Kiwanis Club where he was treasurer for several years. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as Sunday School superintendent, a deacon and an elder. He was one of the leaders in Interfaith Hospitality Network which provided living space and meals for homeless families. He served on the board for LIFT, and was a participant in mission teams which included Waters of the World in Mexico, as well as trips to Cuba and South Africa. He was an outdoor sportsman, and especially loved golf and fishing.

Memorial services will be held at Central Presbyterian Church on Monday, August 6 at 11 a.m. with Dr. Randy Jenkins officiating. Visitation will follow at the Cooper House.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Eloise “Bunny” Hovater; three children, Eleanor Hovater, Genie Hovater Cross and her husband, Thomas Hudson Cross III, Arthur Kimball Hovater Jr. and his wife, Sally Smith Hovater; seven grandchildren, Neely Hooper Minor (Will), Julia Holloway Hooper, Eloise Reynolds Cross, Thomas Hudson Cross IV, William Arthur Hovater, John Robert Hovater, Anne Elizabeth Hovater; and his sister, Alice Hovater Sherrod.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Related Posts

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.