Dennis Boyd Hovermale

Dennis Boyd Hovermale, 84, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va. passes away peacefully and surrounded by his daughters on December 2, 2025 at Celebration Villa of Martinsburg, W.Va. while under the care of Hospice of the Panhandle.

Born February 17, 1941, in Berkeley Springs, Dennis was the eldest son of the late Julian and Marguerite (Kesecker) Hovermale of Friendship Farm.

Dennis is survived by his three daughters, Denise Omstead of Berkeley Springs, Rebecca Hovermale (fiancé Chris Bailey) of Pittsburgh, Pa. and Faith McKechnie of Winchester, Va.; long-time friend Polly Arnold of Berkeley Springs; and his former spouse Jackie Hovermale; five grandchildren (Sam, Grace, Sofia, Hendrik and Reese); siblings Terry Hovermale (Marian), Gale Eddy (Jim), Wayne Hovermale (Nanci), and Jan Trip (Ted), all of Berkeley Springs; many nieces, one nephew, and numerous cousins.

Dennis was preceded in death by his daughter, Scarlett Hovermale.

Dennis graduated Berkeley Springs High School in 1959. There he served as treasurer of the FFA and won the gold medal award for the “FFA Farm and Home Improvement” contest for landscaping work he did on his family farm.

After graduation, he worked as a delivery driver for Bath Candy Company and continued work on the farm.

In 1961, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving for over five years on the USS John R Pierce DD753. His ship was off the coast of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

After his service in the Navy, Dennis returned to Berkeley Springs and went to work for Westvaco Paper Company as a procurement forester. There he took part in an initiative that provided 6.3 million Virginia Pine seedling to West Virginia landowners, many of them are still visible at Coolfont Resort. Dennis also owned and operated a small Christmas tree farm in the 1980’s and delivered firewood to much of the local community until the age of 82. He retired shortly after New Page acquired Westvaco in 2006. In his 36+ years of employment as a procurement forester, Dennis formed life-long friendships with many foresters, loggers, and landowners who would describe him as ‘salt of the earth’.”

Dennis admired art made of wood, and even crafted his own unique birdhouses and walking sticks that were sold in local artist shops.

He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church and served on numerous committees.

He was also a member of the American Legion Post 60 and Morgan County Farm Bureau. He volunteered annually for the “Clean Up Day” at Cacapon State Park and was always helping people in need. He did this quietly, so many of his charitable deeds went unsung.

Dennis loved the outdoors, gardening, bird watching, and wildlife. He often nursed hurt animals back to health. Among these were deer, numerous squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, a crow, a chipmunk, and even skunks!

He was a loyal friend, known for his honesty and integrity. He was extremely hard-working and frugal, often wearing worn and tattered clothes stating, “It’s still good!” His favorite things were a good meal, bluegrass music, hunting, and cutting wood at his beloved property.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025 at First United Methodist Church, 49 S. Green St., Berkeley Springs. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dennis’ memory may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV  25430 or Friendship Cemetery Trust c/o Carol Sue Fox, 584 Fairview Drive, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.