Honoring Alum Betty Hoover
We are saddened by the passing of sister Girl Scout and dedicated Girl Scout alum, Betty Wahneta Vick Hoover. Betty started her Girl Scout journey in Portsmouth in 1936, earning numerous badges and then the First Class Award in 1940, the highest Girl Scout award at that time. When her daughters became Girl Scouts, Betty became their troop leader and Day Camp Director. She instilled a love of Girl Scouting in both daughters; Barbara Tierney, who served as a GSCCC’s Board Chair, received many Girl Scout awards and had many travel adventures as part of her experience, and Vickie Kearn is an active Girl Scout alum who currently serves on GSCCC’s Advocacy Committee.
When Barbara and Vickie were teens, the family moved to Venezuela, but to Betty’s surprise there were no Girl Scouts in Venezuela, so she started Troops on Foreign Soil. The troop worked to become Guias de Venezuela which became the founding of Girl Guides in Venezuela, and Lady Baden Powell flew from London to officiate their Bridging ceremony.
Betty continued to be involved in Girl Scouting when Bob, her husband, was transferred to Monclova, Mexico. Betty served as a Commisionada during her time in Mexico which was a position of importance in Monclova. Her goal throughout her life, no matter where she lived, was to spread the message about Girl Scouting and connect both youth and adults to Girl Scout opportunities.
When Bob and Betty returned to the US in 1969, Betty became a professional Girl Scout with the Lake to River Girl Scout Council in Niles, Ohio. She started her career as a personnel director and landed in other jobs as well that included program director and eventually CEO of the council. Betty was also active in the Youngstown Quota Club as President and participated in Youngstown Leadership Council, and was a member of the Association of Girl Scout Executive Staff (AGSES) and served as chairperson for her division.
During her lifetime with the Girl Scouts, Betty was honored with the highest awards and recognitions of Girl Scouting, including the Thanks Badge, Thanks Badge II, Juliette Gordon Low World Friendship Medal, and the Dorothy Barber Lifetime Achievement Award from GSCCC.
Her funeral service was held on August 8, 2024 at Sturtevant Funeral Home in Portsmouth, Virginia. Memorial tributes may be made to the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast.
