Bobby Monroe Stover, the son of Clarence Monroe and Hazel Leah Whaling Stover, entered into his eternal home with our Lord and Saviour on Monday, May 26, 2025 at the age of 88 years old. Bobby was a member and trustee of the Clay United Methodist Church in Clay, West Virginia.
Born on March 1, 1937, Bobby spent his childhood at his birthplace in Red Dragon, Boone County, WV where he spent his childhood. Eventually, he moved to Clay where he graduated from Clay County High School in 1955. This is where he met the love of his life, Rozella Fay Wilfong. The couple married on December 26, 1959. He attended Marshall College where he was chosen to be on the baseball and wrestling teams. He started his teaching and coaching career at Widen High School where he taught from 1958-1963.
In 1964, he finished his Bachelors degree from Morris Harvey College, and in the same year, he moved to Clay County High School to continue teaching physical education and social studies. In 1965, he began coaching football where he had the first football team to have an 8-2 season. Additionally, he coached baseball for 13 years.
Coach Stover, as he was lovingly known, was chosen as “Man of the Year” by the Clay County Youth in 1967. He also started the first wrestling program at Clay County High School. Coach was chosen AA wrestling coach of the year in 1979 and 1980 by the WV Wrestling Coaches Association and then again in the 1987-88 school year. Over the years, he had ten state champions and twelve runners up. He continued to coach wrestling for 37 years.
Coach Stover eventually took over the roles of athletic director and vice principal before retiring from Clay County High School in 1989. However, he returned to coaching in 1990 to keep the wrestling program alive. In 1998, Coach started working with children at Ivydale Elementary School to revive interest in the program.
In 2004, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma where a plaque was placed in his honor. He very proudly wore his green jacket that had been awarded to him to commemorate this accomplishment.
Coach Stover was further honored when Clay County Youth Wrestling named their local tournament the Bob Stover Classic. He loved attending the matches each December and reliving some of his glory days.
Besides wrestling, Coach Stover enjoyed his family, the outdoors, playing golf, fishing, hunting, and spending time with his beloved wife Rozella of 65 years.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Norma Stover Daniel and her husband Frederick Daniel, and son-in-law, Gary Dean Walker. He is survived by his wife, Rozella Wilfong Stover, his daughter Kim Annette Stover Hanna (husband William Franklin Hanna) his son, Brett Monroe Stover, (wife Kara) his sister, Carolyn Stover Young, (husband Mickey, deceased), brother Jerry, and brother Kent Stover (wife Patricia). He leaves behind five grandchildren: Tabitha Terry, Jordan Walker, Kelsey Mosely, Katie Akers, Seth Stover, and 10 great grandchildren: Katie, Briar, and Logan Cochrum, Cameron, Lily, Gracie, and Brody Walker, John David Blankenhorn, Ella Akers and soon to be, Benjamin Akers, several nieces, extended family, beloved friends, special neighbors, former students, and colleagues.
Coach Stover leaves behind a true legacy of leadership, laughter, and love. Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Funeral Service was held 1:00 pm on Monday June 2, 2025, at Wilson Smith Funeral Home, Clay, WV, visitation was one hour prior to the service from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with Pastors Don and Wilma Dobbins officiating. Burial followed in Clay Memorial Gardens, Clay, WV.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.carlwilsonfuneralhome.com
Wilson Smith Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Stover family.
