Lucy Boss Obituary

Lucy Ann Boss, age 89, passed away the morning of Monday, January 26, 2026, surrounded by the love of her life, William H. Boss (Bill) and her loved ones in Tullahoma, TN.

A warm-weather celebration of Lucy's life will be held at a later date, to include a memorial service at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tullahoma, followed by a traditional potluck picnic at Lucy and Bill's home. Those who wish to be invited may email [email protected] with contact information.

Lucy desired the celebration of life to be a happy, outdoor event where friends and loved ones visit, laugh, swim, play badminton and volleyball, share food, and tell stories. If you knew Lucy, this is the perfect representation of her happy spirit. Per her husband, "Lucy was as close to perfect as a human could get." Some say she's the only saint they've ever met.

Lucy, known by her family as "Lulu," is esteemed for her compassion, dedication to service, and her joyous presence. Lucy grew up in Akron, Ohio, where she met and fell in love with her spouse, Bill Boss, as a summer Camp Y-NOAH counselor. Lucy graduated from Garfield High School, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Akron University, and served as president of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Lucy was an avid swimmer, swim teacher, water aerobics instructor, tennis player, snow skier, and windsurfer. She played a fierce game of racquetball, badminton, and volleyball. She dedicated her life to nurturing her husband and four children as the Air Force military family moved across the United States, while forming meaningful connections within each community. Their life adventures included residencies in Ohio, Michigan, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, and Alaska. Lucy and family finally settled in Tullahoma in 1974, where they acquired horses, goats, sheep, ducks, chickens, and a cow to get a taste of farm life. Lucy volunteered hundreds of hours to preserve over 50 years of history of the South Jackson Civic Center, Community Playhouse into numerous albums. Lucy spent her life playing piano, teaching kids and adults to swim, and leading Silver Sneakers Water Aerobics for the City of Tullahoma until she was 86 years old. Lucy loved growing flowers, picking bouquets, staying active, playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and quietly helping others from all backgrounds and walks of life.

One of Lucy's most significant impacts on the world was working as volunteer international ambassador in the 1980s for the Open Door Student Exchange, enriching the lives of dozens of Tullahoma families and contributing to the educational life of Tullahoma schools. In addition to coordinating homestays and serving as a personal contact and resource for dozens of exchange students, Lucy expanded the Boss family by hosting beloved students Monica Julio (Chile), Maria Teresa Andrade (Brazil), Dalia Khalil (Egypt), Esteban Vergara (Ecuador), Rio (Philippines), Michong Stowe (Korea), Brigitta and Tinny Von Messling (Germany), and Erica Ring (Norway).

Lucy was a pillar of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tullahoma as a dedicated member and volunteer for fifty years. She arrived early and stayed late to provide hot coffee and a warm welcome for members and visitors, played piano for services, authored the newsletter, provided flower arrangements, visited the sick, mowed the grass, cleaned the building, organized church yard sales, recycled aluminum cans, and more.

Lucy is preceded in death by her parents, Herman William Hoppstock, who immigrated to the United States from the Province of Hanover, Prussia in Germany, and Florence Clerc Hoppstock, who immigrated from Vevey, Switzerland.

Lucy is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, William (Bill) Harold Boss; children Randy Boss (Susan Martino), Tammy Hall, Annie Clements (Noel), and Daniel Alan Boss (Kim); grandchildren Dustin Boss (Shanna), Shawn Boss (Ashley), Andy Hall (Molly), Brittany Hall (BJ Jennings), David Flanigan (Jenny), Daniel Flanigan (Vinnie Turocy), Noah Flanigan (Teale), Sarah Flanigan (Clay Thomas), Zoe Clements (Greg Miller), Charlie Boss, and Violet Boss; and great-grandchildren Lucy Kay Boss, Sophie Boss, Nora Madelyn Boss, Thomas Rubio, Victoria Rubio, Adrianna Hall, Maddox Hall, Gracie Willingham, Baylor Jennings, Ellie Flanigan, Emmie Flanigan, and Leif Flanigan.

She is also survived by brother Fredrick Hoppstock (Mona); sister-in-law Nancy Boss Wells; nephews Eric and Mark Hoppstock and their offspring; nieces Karen Svab, Lisa Jones, Sarah Aitken, and Mary Welland and their offspring; cousin-in-law Bill A. Boss (Ellen); her lifelong humorist, penpal and childhood friend, Ms. Carol Maier Dybo; dear friends, Daniel P. Flanigan, Jennifer Wendell; and numerous friends from her Silver Sneakers Water Aerobics Class, Unitarian Church of Tullahoma, South Jackson Civic Center, and the Tullahoma Community Playhouse.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Lucy Ann Boss to Nacel Open Door student exchange organization (givemn.org/organization/Nacelopendoor) to foster international family experiences in the US and abroad, or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (alzfdn.org) to support Alzheimer's research and education, or the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (empowernashville.org) to provide support to refugees and immigrants in Middle Tennessee.

Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN, 37398, (931)-967-2222, www.moorecortner.com.