Creatively image a question and justification for this answer: August 17 , 2008
The question is: Context: Maudie Hopkins (December 7, 1914 -- August 17, 2008) was an American woman believed to be the last publicly known and identified surviving widow of a Civil War veteran.

Question: when did the last widow of the civil war die?
Step-by-step reasoning process: The relevant information to answer the above question is: Maudie Hopkins (December 7, 1914 -- August 17, 2008) was an American woman believed to be the last publicly known and identified surviving widow of a Civil War veteran.