May 3, 2013

Walter Leroy Hoffman, 73, of Monongahela, died Wednesday, May 1, 2013. He peacefully and painlessly passed away in his home, surrounded by family, from an extended battle with cancer.

Born August 27, 1939, in Monongahela, he was a son of the late Walter A. and May E. McDonald Hoffman.

He married Carol J. Milligan September 2, 1961, in Mingo Presbyterian Church, Finleyville. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City, Utah, Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints September 11, 1961.

Mr. Hoffman graduated from Monongahela High School in 1957, attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and served in and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Air National Guard.

He was retired from CSXT Railroad (formerly known as Baltimore & Ohio Railroad), where he worked as a telegrapher, clerk and yard clerk for 42 years.

Mr. Hoffman was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many positions and organizations including District Missionary, Young Mens Organization, Sunday School Teacher, scouting, counselor in the Bishopric and member of the High Counsel, where, among several other duties, he enjoyed serving as building construction liaison for the Oakland Ward Building. With the permission of the Bishopric of the church, he created and managed “Scream Acres” haunted house. This was instrumental in raising the finances for constructing the addition to the Monongahela Ward building.

He was a professional genealogist. He spent countless hours researching his own family and collecting family stories as well as assisting others in doing their own genealogy. This was very important to him.

Mr. Hoffman loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, who loved to hear him tell stories, and he enjoyed camping, gardening, landscaping, model railroading, hunting and photography.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are brother Donald (Jackie) Hoffman of Charleroi; sister Eileen Schaum of Kentucky; son “Roy” Walter L. (Heidi) Hoffman of Monongahela; daughters Diane C. (Steve) Ader of Charleroi , Mary Jane (Brian) McCombs of New Middletown, Ohio, and Colleen R. (Matthew) Lindley of Prosperity; and 12 grandchildren, Haley, Collin and Benjamin Hoffman, Alecandria, Preston and Lauren Ader, Mikayla, Riley and Paige McCombs and Allison, Leah and Adam Lindley.

Friends will be received from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Marshall Marra Funeral Home, 216 Chess Street, Monongahela, 724-258-6767, www.marshallmarrafuneralhome.com. An additional viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, May 6, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 136 Sacred Heart Drive, Monongahela, and will be followed by a service at 11:30 a.m. A short graveside service will follow at Monongahela Cemetery. Donations may be made in honor of Mr. Hoffman and checks payable to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family History Center, where he spent many hours of service, in care of Bishop Ron Paul, 101 Alkim Drive, Brownsville, PA 15417.

His family takes solace in Luke 23:43, as Jesus Christ says, “… Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”