George Ernest Hoffman Jr., 81
George Ernest Hoffman Jr., 81, entered into rest on Dec. 25, 2006. George was born Aug. 24, 1925 in Akron, Iowa to George Ernest Sr. and Clara McConahie Hoffman.
Clara Hoffman, George's mother, passed away in 1927 of scarlet fever when George was two years old. George and his brother Frank were raised by their father and paternal grandparents. George's other siblings, Mildred and Lester were raised by their maternal grandparents.
At the age of 17, George joined the Navy where he served in the ships store and as Head of the laundry. George served on The U.S.S. Norfolk, The U.S.S. Keppler, The U.S.S. Cape Johnson, the U.S.S. Sevier, U.S.S. Raby, U.S.S. Prairie and The U.S.S. Spangler. George received the Purple Heart, the American Area Campaign medal, The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and The World War II Victory Medal.
In 1948, he married Shirley Jean Howell. George received an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1954, his status at that time being a disabled Navy Veteran. After leaving the Navy, George went to Linotype school and forged a career in the newspaper/printing business. George and Shirley moved around, following the newspaper/printing business from Petaluma, Calif., to Sonoma, Calif. From Sonoma, the Hoffman family moved to Yureka, Calif., then on to Wenatchee, Wash.
In 1971, the family finally settled in Lewiston, Idaho where George was employed by the Lewiston Morning Tribune. By this time, George and Shirley had four children, Sandra, Ruth Ann, Georgette and Wesley. George retired from the Lewiston Morning Tribune in 1990, and he and his wife Shirley moved to Bonners Ferry in 1994.
George was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Frank and his beloved wife, Shirley.
George is survived by his sister Mildred, his brother Lester, his children, Sandra Hoffman Miller, Ruth Hoffman Roland (husband James Roland), Georgette Hoffman Stephenson (husband Ben Stephenson) and son Wesley Hoffman (wife Theresa Almada Hoffman). His surviving family include his grandchildren; Tanya, Nicole, Heather Roland Brown, Briana Roland Hilden, Brandon Stephenson, Reuben Hoffman, James Stephenson, Jacob Stephenson, and ten great-grandchildren.