It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Joseph O. Stover, affectionately known as Joe, who left us peacefully on March 18, 2025, with his family by his side at the age of 96.  

Born on Feb. 13, 1929, in Bath, Maine, Joe lived a life rich in love, service and dedication. 
 
He was the son of Eugene and Margaret Mullaney Stover and grew up in a close-knit family, alongside his brothers, John and Eugene. Joe graduated from Boothbay Region High School in 1947 and furthered his education at the Maine Vocational Technical Institute. He served his country with pride in the Army, achieving the rank of Private First Class during two separate tours, where he learned the values of service and commitment that would guide him throughout his life. 
 
Joe started his career as a machinist at Hyde Windlass, which later became Bath Iron Works. He worked there for 36 years before retiring in 1990. He was respected and admired by his colleagues, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and dedication. Beyond his career, Joe was a devoted family man. He loved nothing more than witnessing the achievements of his children and grandchildren. He spent countless hours coaching YMCA basketball and Little League baseball, and he was a beloved troop leader for the Boy Scouts of America. Every vacation he took, he devoted to creating lasting memories with his kids—an act that epitomized his commitment to family. 
 
Joe was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan and a passionate lover of dogs, in particular his current canine companion, Sophie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. 
 
In the community, Joe was actively involved, being a member of the Rotary Club, the Jaycees of Boothbay Region, and the Masonic Grand Lodge of Maine. He forged friendships and connections that enriched his life and the lives of those around him. 
 
Joe was predeceased by his mother and father, his brother John “Jack,” his brother Eugene Jr., and his niece, Robin Anderson.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret “Peggy” Stover, his sons Michael Wood and partner Valerie Artzer, Mark Stover and wife Bonnie, Dardo Miguel Gutierrez from Salsa, Argentina, grandson Stephen Wood, granddaughter Brittany Wood Maloney and her husband Randy, great-grandson Spencer Wood, great-granddaughters Saylor, Saydi, and Riverann Maloney, nephew John Coady, and nieces Kelly Coady, Kathy Vallaincourt, and Candace Dorman. He also leaves behind many extended family, dear friends, and neighbors who will remember his warmth and laughter. 

A memorial service for Joe will be held on Saturday, March 29 at 1 p.m. at the Boothbay Harbor Methodist Church, 87 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor. 

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To share a condolence or memory with the Stover family, visit Joe’s Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.