Q: 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?
Let's give stream of consciousness below

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. So the answer is August 17 , 2008.