Ray Ramon Hoffman

Ray Ramon Hoffman, 90, passed peacefully from this earth, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He had been a resident at Heritage Harbor of Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for 3 years. Born July 29, 1927 in Saville Township, he was a son of the late Elmer and Edna (Jacobs) Hoffman. Ray attended Ickesburg School until he quit to stay home and help on the family farm. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in November 1945, serving as a mechanic in the motorpool. Prior to being discharged in May 1947, he was stationed in Georgia, New Jersey, California, and Japan. In the summer of 1946, Ray met Mildred (nee Hummel). They were married October 23, 1948. They settled in Newport and over the span of the next 69 years, they worked hard and raised 4 children. In the early years, while employed by the railroad, Ray built their house from the ground up, digging the foundation by hand and cutting the lumber from the surrounding woods. In addition, Ray worked installing horse fences at the farmshow and farming various parcels of land in Perry County. He and Mildred used a crosscut saw to cut paperwood to be hauled to the mill. In 1957, after being laid off from the Enola freight yard, Ray looked for other employment and began working for Centre Township. Over the next 48 years, he worked as a supervisor and road caretaker. While working full time for the township, Ray and Mildred also worked odd jobs on the side. He was known by many for custom butchering, processing deer meat, and making bologna and dried beef in the colder months. He also "played" Santa for 59 years at Reward, Ickesburg firehouse, and privately. During the spring and summer months he roasted pigs, painted houses and barn roofs, and was a general fix-it man. After leaving the township, he went to work at Juniata Township as a laborer. Ray finally retired in 2010 for good. Although working hard was his passion, he did enjoy being outdoors and hunting. He and his family spent many weekends camping in Potter County and surrounding areas. They "roughed" it in a truck with a cap he had renovated in to more comfortable accommodations. He and Mildred spent their time riding the gator, cutting down dead trees, and cleaning up the property. They enjoyed their daily trips over on the hill riding on the paths they cut on the ridge. In addition to being survived by his loving wife, Ray is survived by son Bob (Shirley Kretzing) Hoffman, Elliottsburg, 3 daughters, Nancy Collins, Newport, Joan (Lynn) Bream, Shippensburg, and Anita (Bob) Henry, of Carlisle, 8 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and 2 step great grandchildren, his sister, Henrietta Ettien of Newport, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by 4 brothers and a sister. Services will be held Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at 11 AM in the Boyer Family Funeral Home, 101 W. Main St., New Bloomfield, PA. Visitation will be from 9-11 AM. Burial will be at the New Bloomfield Cemetery with full military honors. A luncheon will be provided following the service at the Parrish Hall in New Bloomfield. Boyer Family Funeral Home is honored to handle the arrangements for the Hoffman Family.

Ray Ramon Hoffman

June 17, 2018