Carolyn Hovik passed away Sunday in Huntsville, AL at the age of 90. Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar Emanuel Hovik; parents, Thelma Sortore Hooper and Albert William Hooper, and son, William Alan “Bill” Hovik. Carolyn is survived by; brother, Roger Hooper (Cherry); grandchildren, Melody Rae Young (Matt) and Ryan Hovik (Natalie); great-grandson, Robert Alan Young; and daughter-in-law, Mary Ellen Hovik and her son, John Canaan Emmons.
Born in Bradford, PA, Carolyn’s family moved to Muscle Shoals, AL in 1932 where Grandfather Hooper had purchased residential lots when he sold his oil lease at the end of the oil boom in Pennsylvania. Dad Hooper would re-survey the lots for purchasers for the city to be “The Detroit of The South”. This development did not happen so Dad Hooper was hired by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The family moved to Florence, AL, in 1941 where Carolyn graduated from Coffee High School in 1949.
Carolyn attended Otterbein College in Westerville, OH, where several cousins had attended. She graduated in elementary education in 1953 and returned to the family which had moved to Huntsville, AL, where Dad Hooper was now working for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency. Carolyn was hired by the Huntsville City Schools beginning a career of teaching where she would teach in five of the city’s elementary schools before retiring in 1989 when the “Airport Road” tornado destroyed Jones Valley School. While at Jones Valley School, Carolyn installed the pilot program which established kindergarten schooling in the Huntsville City School system.
Carolyn met Oscar Emanuel Hovik in 1953, who was serving his service time at Redstone Arsenal and was attending First Methodist Church where Carolyn was a member. In October 1955, Carolyn and Oscar were married until Oscar’s death in 1965. A son, William Alan Hovik was born in 1961, who carried on his father’s music talent until his death in 2015.
At First Methodist Church, Carolyn was a member of the Sanctuary Choir, and numerous church committees. She was a founder of the present-day Joanna Servers UMW Circle and received the Special Mission Award. She was always ready to bake goodies for church activities, take food to others, visit in the hospital, and help in any way she could. She was a loving caregiver for both her parents. She and her parents were known for their hospitality toward others, making new friends, and keeping in touch with life-long friends. She went the extra mile to reach out to others with her special gift for friendship. She was a loving mother to son, Bill, and supported him in all of his activities in every way through his school years, as well as throughout his adult musical career.
Carolyn’s other interests were family, friends, hospitality, music, and church activities. She always said that she had a special relationship with the Lord. Many dear friends were the recipients of her special hospitality. She was especially grateful to her brother, Roger, and to friends Patricia, Jamie, and Dottie for their faithful caregiving.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral will immediately follow in the chapel with the Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Choir at First United Methodist Church, 120 Greene St. SE, Huntsville, AL 35801, or to your favorite charity.
