Ruth Mae House Hoffman, of Culpeper, entered peacefully into God’s eternal presence on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at Our Father’s House Christian Home at the age of 89. She was born March 1, 1922 in Greenwich, Prince William County, VA to the late John Nathaniel and Mattie Mae McMichael House.
After high school, she took a one year course in bookkeeping and then worked for the GAO in Washington, D.C. On January 22, 1943, she married Frederick Reid “Bill” Hoffman, had a very short honeymoon and then saw her husband off to war. They were reunited in their marriage after his return from the war in the fall of 1945. She continued to use her accounting skills by keeping the books for the farms where she and Bill lived, as well as some other farms owned by friends.
Ruth joyfully devoted her life to being a wife and mother. Additionally, Ruth and Bill were part of the initial group that started the Prince William County Fair during the years they lived there. She submitted entries in food and garden and later judged in those categories. When they became residents of Culpeper County, she found time to be a 4-H leader and an active member of the Elkwood Home Demonstration Club. Later on in life, she was a member of Women’s Aglow and took part in numerous Bible studies.
Ruth and Bill enjoyed many years of traveling during retirement to see relatives from Virginia to California and always welcomed those who came to visit them. Ruth also made a trip to Israel in the 1980’s with her sister Lucy to visit those places where her Savior Jesus Christ had once walked. Ruth delighted in her relationship with Jesus, and she also delighted in loving and caring for others. She was a long time member of the Culpeper Presbyterian Church and served in many different capacities there.
Ruth is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, F.R. “Bill” Hoffman; 3 brothers, Royall House, James House and Ewing House; and three sisters, Elva Gard, Amelia Allen and Margret Dulany.
She is survived by four children, Frederick Lee and his wife, Nancy Martin Hoffman of Roanoke, John William and his wife, Catherine Fore Hoffman of New Hope, MaryAnn and her husband, Lynn Drew Yoder of Culpeper, and David Gordon and his wife, Darlene Frazier Hoffman of Culpeper.
Additional survivors include thirteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, three sisters, Lucy House Hutchison of Naples, FL, Helen House Croushorn and her husband, Kenneth of Nokesville, and Marie House Watson and her husband, David of Midlothian, and numerous nephews and nieces.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 27, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Culpeper Presbyterian Church with Rev. R. Wayne Bernardo officiating. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Interment will follow in Culpeper National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Culpeper Presbyterian Church, 301 South Main St., Culpeper, VA 22701.
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is handling the arrangements.
Published in The Culpeper Star-Exponent on May 25, 2011 and Published in News & Messenger on May 25, 2011