Ralph Eugene Hoffmann, age 86, of The Villages, FL, passed away on Saturday, October 6, 2018. He was born in New York City, NY on April 24, 1932 and grew up in Mineola, NY where he graduated from Mineola High School in 1950.
Ralph served in the US Marines during the Korean Conflict where he participated at the Landing in Inchon and later fought in the battle of the Chosin Reservoir. During this time he was awarded the Purple Heart. He also served 25 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves where he retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant.
During his life he worked as a Sales and Marketing Manager for the Bell System.
He moved to The Villages from Dunnellon, FL in 2002. He was a member of St. Timothy Catholic Church. He was a member of Chosin Few, Colonel Phillip C. Delong Detachment of the Marine Corp League # 1267 where he served as Chaplain, VFW, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Knights of Columbus and The Villages Honor Guard. Ralph coordinated a team serving at Brother’s Keeper Soup Kitchen in Ocala every other Saturday. He was heavily involved in the Helping Hands program that assists families with lodging and travel expenses when visiting loved ones at the VA hospital in Tampa. He created the funding program for the support of Lake Hill School for severely disabled children and was the famous “battery man” in the Marine Corps League’s Toys for Tots.
He is survived by his son Rev. Francis Hoffmann of Darien, CT and daughter Kathleen Hoffmann of Somerset, NJ.
A visitation will be held Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 3975 Wedgewood Lane The Villages, FL 32162 on Thursday, October 11, 2018 from 4 – 7 p.m. A Mass will be celebrated at St. Timothy Catholic Church, 1351 Paige Place, The Villages, FL 32159 on Friday, October 12, 2018 at 10 a.m.
Ralph will be laid to rest at Florida National Cemetery beside his wife Frances E. Hoffmann who passed away on November 8, 2012.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lake Hill School, 909 S. Lakeshore Blvd, Howey-In-The-Hills, FL 34737.
