Rachel Shook Hoilman – (October 17, 1950 – July 30, 2025)
Rachel Hoilman, 74, of Plumtree, passed away on Wednesday, July 30th, surrounded by her family at home.
Rachel was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, educator, friend, co-worker, and advocate for children. She enjoyed reading, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
A native of Avery County, Rachel, was the daughter of the late Everett and Lucille Hodges Shook. She was preceded in death by two brothers (Paul and Bynum Shook), mother and father in law (Troy & Beulah Hoilman), and a sister-in-law (Brenda Wilson).
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Troy Wayne Hoilman; sons Greg (Meredith) and Corey (Kathryn); and grandchildren Troy, Emree, J’Leyn, Avery & Ben. She is also survived by one sister, Lois Strickland (Bob), sisters-in-laws Sandra Pitman (Alan) and Kim Hicks (Larry), and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rachel valued education, reading, and life-long learning. She was a graduate of the first class of Avery High School in 1969 and subsequently earned degrees from UNC-Greensboro, Lees McRae, and Appalachian State University.
Rachel was employed by Avery County Schools and later served as the principal at the Crossnore Academy. Rachel was also instrumental in establishing the Lamplighters Afterschool Literacy Program in 2015 at Spruce Pine United Methodist Church. Each school year, the Lamplighters program serves twenty local first and second graders from Greenlee Primary School. Rachel strongly believed in the mission of this program to promote the “well-being of children and their families in heart, body, mind, and spirit by helping them to grow as readers, to experience Christian love, and to be encouraged towards a more hopeful future.”
To honor her legacy, the family will be present on the porch at her home for an informal visitation on Sunday, August 3rd, from 2-4pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Rachel’s memory can be made to the Lamplighters Program. Checks may be mailed to SPUMC (Memo- Lamplighters) at 11090 Hwy 226 South, Spruce Pine, NC 28777 or online at https://sprucepineumc.org (under the Give/Donate Now tab).
Words of comfort may be e-mailed to the family by going to the website; www.webbfh.com, selecting Rachel Hoilmans’ name and then you may sign her guestbook.
Webb Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements for Mrs. Hoilman and is honored to be serving the Hoilman family.
Mrs. Hoilmans’ obituary has also been posted on Facebook for viewing
