Richard Eugene Hoover, Jr.

Richard E. Hoover, Jr., 79, of Franklin, NH passed away on October 11, 2025. Ric was born in Mobile Alabama to Richard E. Hoover and Ellen E. Vautier and lived an adventurous and storied life – some of which still remains classified. Whether it was sailing the world with his father on naval clipper ships, testing experimental parachutes, designing the instrument panels of NASA shuttles, or traveling with his family – Ric always had a wry joke and a prank at the ready. He loved shooting, fishing, westerns, making nautical crafts, and tooling around in the garage. Among his family, Ric was famed for being the inspiration for “the most interesting man alive” commercials and for always having a good story to tell – most of which were actually true.

He will be greatly missed by his surviving family: his wife, Grace Hoover, his son Zachary Hoover and wife Jillian, and his daughter Emilee Landon and husband Matthew, and grandchildren: Natalie, Zachary, Thomas, Brooklyn, Deklan, and Rory.

Calling hours are Monday, October 20th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Thibault-Neun Funeral Home, 143 Franklin Street, Franklin NH. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?frequency_selected=0&dedication=1&sc_dcm=137187317454&sc_cid=kwp&sl=memorial-gift&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1285465&ds_rl=1290690&ds_rl=1291300&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17681678597&gbraid=0AAAAADuyZN7Hp_KxdLdhgwLYwgj1wUVrt&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzfa_rquhkAMVLzMIBR3DiyouEAAYASABEgIq3vD_BwE