Donald Gene "Don" Hoover, Jr.

Donald Gene “Don” Hoover, Jr., of Durham, died September 11, 2024 after a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer. He was 60.

Don was born in New Orleans to Pat and Don Hoover Sr. on October 14, 1963. The family soon moved to Charlotte, NC, where Don and his two siblings, Rebecca and David, were raised. Don came to know Jesus at Carmel Baptist Church as a child. He gained a love for the outdoors through family camping trips and his years as a Boy Scout and then Eagle Scout. Scouting taught him valuable outdoor skills and instilled in him a sense of adventure that he would carry throughout his life.

Don knew from an early age that he wanted to be a veterinarian. He graduated from N.C. State with a BS in Animal Science in 1985 and then graduated from NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. During this time, he met his beloved wife, Traci (a Tar Heel), and they married on July 30, 1988.

Shortly after marrying, Don and Traci moved to Lancaster, PA, where Don practiced as a mixed-animal veterinarian in rural Pennsylvania. They returned to North Carolina in 1992, when he purchased what would become Westside Animal Hospital. 

In 1999, Don began focusing on dentistry and oral surgery for veterinary patients. After completing a rigorous course of study, he became a Fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry in 2016. That same year, he founded the Veterinary Dental Clinic of North Carolina. As a veterinarian, Don exemplified true empathy and compassion. He pursued excellence in his career and had a positive impact on the lives of his patients, clients, and veterinary colleagues. Friends often ignored his blunt assessments, however, when he would share the many reasons not to get a dog.

Don and Traci were true partners, a team in family life and in service to their community. He was a devoted and present dad to his seven children. Don was known to spearhead fun adventures, famously piling neighborhood kids into the back of his pickup to go sledding after snowstorms. In more recent years, he and Traci especially enjoyed the serenity of Cherry Lane, their family’s property in the mountains of North Carolina. Don’s greatest joy in life was being “Pops” to his three grandchildren.

Together, Don and Traci cultivated a home of hospitality and warmth, opening an ever-revolving door to friends, kids, and neighbors. An exceptional cook with no need for recipes, Don could usually be found behind the stove or grill. After moving to the North Street neighborhood, he and Traci fed dozens weekly at their open-invitation Taco Tuesday dinners.

Don was a friend to many, enjoying a good bike ride, a chat on his back porch, watching the Wolfpack, and hiking at the Eno. An avid fisherman, Don facilitated countless fishing trips for friends and family, and found great joy spending some of his final days teaching his nephews how to catch and filet trout at Cherry Lane. In the community, he was generous with his time, insight, and acumen. Over the years, he served organizations including Young Life, Reality Ministries, Tenwek Hospital and Side by Side. Don and Traci were also integral in founding their beloved neighborhood, the North Street Community.

Above all, Don was a devoted follower of Christ. Faithful in service to his church, Blacknall Presbyterian, he served as a Sunday school teacher, youth leader, and elder, and as a member of many retreat and search committees. The Blacknall community benefited greatly from his prayerful wisdom, thoughtful insights, and easy sense of humor.

Even in the face of his diagnosis, Don rested his hope in Christ, witnessing to the goodness of God and trusting in the peace of eternal life.

Don is survived by his wife, Traci; seven children: Philip Derk (Julia), Maria Bradshaw (Zach), John, May Hart (Pearson), Caleb, Dattu, and Diane; and three grandchildren, Ellis, Joanna, and Theo Bradshaw. He is also survived by his parents, Don Sr. and Pat Hoover; brother, David (Karen); and sister, Rebecca Shelton (Jeff); as well as numerous beloved in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

Pallbearers will be George Arky, Bo Harrison, Steve Hinkle, Mark Paulson, Michael Whisenhunt, Todd Williams.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at 4:00pm on Sunday, September 29 at Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church 1902 Perry Street, Durham, NC 27705. 

There will be two visitations to pay condolences to the family. We hope that in-town friends will come to the Saturday evening visitation allowing out-of-town guests the opportunity for visitation prior to the service. The family requests you attend only one visitation. Visitations will be Saturday, September 28 from 6 to 8pm at Hall Wynne Funeral Home (1113 W Main Street, Durham, NC 27705) and Sunday, September 29 from 2 to 3:30pm before the service at Blacknall Presbyterian Church. 

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in honor of Don’s life to any of his beloved charities listed below:

Reality Ministries, Inc.

https://realityministriesinc.org/donate/

Frontier Fellowship

https://frontierfellowship.com/eastern-wind/

Holt International 

https://www.holtinternational.org/donate/