Gerald "Jerry" Lee Hovley

Gerald "Jerry" Lee Hovley, born August 27, 1932, died peacefully from cancer on September 4, 2025. He was 93.

Jerry was born in Brawley, California. He graduated from Brawley Union High in 1950. In 1952 he joined the US Air Force and went on to earn his wings, proudly flying the F-86 Sabre. He continued to fly in the Air National Guard while attending UCLA, graduating in 1960 with a BS in Chemistry. If you were around Los Angeles in the late '50s, you would have seen him driving around campus in his beloved white Jaguar XK-140.

Jerry worked professionally as a salesman for various companies, including Van Waters & Rogers, Pabst, and Sandoz. He earned a real estate license and was a driver for Hertz until age 90.

Jerry's first marriage was to Abigail Arnold (now Abigail Tessman), and they had two children: Erich Hovley (b. 1961) and Heather Hovley (b. 1962). Jerry's second marriage was to Beverly (Kuncel) Harthan, and he had two stepdaughters: Erin Barnes and Brenda Alanis.

Jerry made an impression on everyone he met. His outgoing personality, humor, and willingness to talk about almost anything to almost anyone made him a lively conversationalist. His interests included cars, airplanes, nature, sports, religion, astronomy, ornithology, photography, architecture, politics, and history. He was a life-long philatelist, leaving behind binders of beautiful stamps, many of which feature his favorite plant, the orchid.

Jerry volunteered as a docent at the Joesph M. Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz, California, where he tended to the gardens and took visitors on tours. If there was a whale swimming around off the Pacific coast, he would surely identify the species, tell you about its migratory pattern, and then rail about global warming and threats to ocean life. He did not edit when it came to opinions and of those he had many.

Jerry is remembered by a long list of family and friends. He enjoyed several reunions with the Air Force 720th Bombardment Squadron. He had a group of buddies from a coffee shop in Ben Lomond, California, friends from work, and a best friend, Jim Kelley, from UCLA. He knew folks throughout California, up and down the West Coast, and all over the country, with whom he called frequently to discuss, tease, and argue. A call from Jerry was always an experience.

Jerry moved to Ohio in 2023 to be closer to Erich and his wife, Sarah. Jerry referred to this as "the kidnapping" and never forgave us for taking him from his beloved California. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, Ian, his wife Sarah, and Emma.

Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Anthony, his mother, Odelia, his three sisters, Jacqueline, Linda, and Barbara, and brother, Alan. He is survived by brother and sister Marvin and Karen.

Jerry chose to be cremated, and his ashes will travel back to California to be returned to the natural world he loved. If you would like to honor his life, please make a donation to your favorite charity.