George William Hoffman, Jr. age 92 of Frederick, MD, died Tuesday, August 27, 2013. Born on December 25, 1920 in Frederick County, he was the first of eight children born to the late George William Hoffman, Sr. and Ethel Warnetta Thomas Hoffman. George was the husband of Velma Lucille Hoffman whom he married in 1942. Surviving in addition to his wife, are one daughter, Peggy Rhoderick and son-in-law, Terre Rhoderick of Frederick, two grandchildren, Sean Rhoderick and fiancé, Ana Kornegay of Baltimore, MD and Jamie North-Bean and husband, Christopher Bean, of Harpers Ferry, WV, one great-granddaughter, Madison North of Harpers Ferry, WV, and two great-grandsons, Nicholas North and Anthony Bean of Harpers Ferry, WV. He is also survived by two sisters, Anna Mary Shankle of Frederick and Helen Plunkard and husband, Franklin, also of Frederick, and three sisters-in-law, Betty Hoffman, Madeline Hoffman, and LaRue Swomley and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Harriet Gibbons, Jane Phillips, and Ruby Brashears and two brothers, Marion Hoffman and Rev. John Hoffman. George was born and grew up on the family farm between Jefferson and Doubs, MD and began his married life living in the tenant house and working for his father. He moved on to become a meat cutter at Hemp's Butcher Shop in Jefferson and eventually rented farms from Frank and Clarence Thomas in Adamstown, and he, along with Lucille, were dairy farmers until 1961. While farming, George was an active volunteer with the Adamstown Fire and Rescue Company and is a charter member of the Carroll Manor Fire Company. After retiring from farming, George moved to Frederick and worked with Potomac Edison Company, Eastalco Company, and finally as an animal caretaker at Fort Detrick. He retired permanently in 1982 to enjoy boating and skiing on the Potomac River near Harpers Ferry., WV. Church and faith in God were very important to George. He was brought up in the Doubs Methodist Church and transferred to Jefferson United Methodist Church after marrying. He was unable to attend in his later years, but read the Bible, prayed for family, friends, community, and the world, and enjoyed the TV ministries. His family, especially the grandkids and great-grandkids were the center of his life! George kept a positive attitude in spite of heart attacks, having a pacemaker and defibrillator implanted, and losing his ability to enjoy many of the physical/manual activities that were "second nature" to him. He credited DR Jeffrey Cowen, his cardiologist, the expert caregiving of his wife, Lucille, and the Hood Aquatic Center for his ability to maintain a good quality of life. He swam every day at Hood until age 90 enjoying the physical exercise and camaraderie with fellow swimmers. George spent his life helping others, whether it be cutting and splitting wood with his son-in-law, helping people to move, mowing for family and neighbors in Frederick and at the river, helping with butcherings, visiting the sick in hospitals and nursing homes, cat sitting for the neighbor..The list goes on and on! George, "Judge," "Pap," "Dad," will be missed by so many whose lives he touched. A service celebrating George's life will be held on Friday, August 30, 2013 at 11:00AM at Keeney Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church ST, Frederick, MD. The family will be available for visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Paul Papp will officiate. Interment will immediately follow at MT Olivet Cemetery (Section HH), Frederick, MD. Pall Bearers are: William Brashears, Kevin Hoffman, Edward Page, Donnie Plunkard, Richard Shankle, Wayne Shankle, William Spahr, and Michael Swomley. Memorial donations may be made to Jefferson United Methodist Church, 3882 Jefferson Pike, Jefferson, MD 21755 or to the Office of Institutional Advancement/Hood College Aquatic Program, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick, MD 21701. Please indicate that the memorial gifts are for George Hoffman Jr.
