Obituaries
John Ray Hoffman
( September 20, 1926 - February 8, 2017 )
John Ray Hoffman, also known as Ray, John R., Papa, Red, and sometimes Hub, died on Wednesday, February 8, when his 90-year-old heart simply said, “Enough.”
Services will be at the graveside on Sunday, February 12, 3 p.m., at Bethphage Lutheran Church at 3440 Hwy. 182 in Lincolnton. Family and friends will gather in the Family Life Center following the service. At other times, the family will be at the home of Billy and Carole Howell.
He was a 1943 graduate of Lincolnton High School and a Navy veteran.
In 1946 he married Daphine Wise, the little girl he had teased in high school. He learned the masonry trade and laid the brick on many an iconic building during the Charlotte building boom of the 1950s. He later went on to have his own construction and remodeling business, working on many homes and buildings in and around Lincolnton. One of his proudest achievements was designing and building St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Pumpkin Center.
For years, he and Daphine were dedicated members of Bethphage Lutheran Church. While Daphine played the organ, Ray directed the choir, and their musical service spanned well over 40 years. He had a strong tenor voice, sharing his talent at many weddings and funerals. He especially cherished leading the family in the Doxology every Thanksgiving.
After retirement, he was known by many as the old man on the golf cart who grew muscadines on Walker Branch Road. His great hobby was wine making, and he generously shared with his friends every Christmas and throughout the year.
He was also the man known for “holding court” at Hardees every single morning, surrounded by friends, sharing laughter and lies each morning at breakfast. He cherished those friendships.
John Ray was preceded in death by his wife, his three older sisters Winnie Hoffman, Mary Rhyne, Ruth Rhyne, and nephew William Dwight Rhyne, Jr.
He is survived by his daughter, Carole Hoffman Howell, and her husband Billy, grandson Devin Donnelly, his wife Justine, and great-granddaughter Penelope of White Hall, VA; grandson Matthew Donnelly of Lincolnton; nephew David Rhyne and wife Frances of Lincolnton; nephew Kenneth Rhyne and wife Tanya of Lincolnton; niece Shirley Rhyne Jones and husband Gary of Lexington, NC; cousin Barbara Shrum Blanton of Lincolnton; sister-in-law Sue Wise Johnson and husband Carroll of Lincolnton; and nephew Mike Johnson and his wife Fran of Lincolnton. In addition are many, many more nieces and nephews, and step-grandchildren William Howell, Hannah Howell Keister and husband Darren, and their two children, Nathan and Lorelai.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial contributions to Lincoln County Christian Ministries, 207 S. Poplar St., Lincolnton, NC, 28092, or to the music fund of First United Methodist Church, 201 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC, 28092.
Services will be at the graveside on Sunday, February 12, 3 p.m., at Bethphage Lutheran Church at 3440 Hwy. 182 in Lincolnton. Family and friends will gather in the Family Life Center following the service. At other times, the family will be at the home of Billy and Carole Howell.
He was a 1943 graduate of Lincolnton High School and a Navy veteran.
In 1946 he married Daphine Wise, the little girl he had teased in high school. He learned the masonry trade and laid the brick on many an iconic building during the Charlotte building boom of the 1950s. He later went on to have his own construction and remodeling business, working on many homes and buildings in and around Lincolnton. One of his proudest achievements was designing and building St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Pumpkin Center.
For years, he and Daphine were dedicated members of Bethphage Lutheran Church. While Daphine played the organ, Ray directed the choir, and their musical service spanned well over 40 years. He had a strong tenor voice, sharing his talent at many weddings and funerals. He especially cherished leading the family in the Doxology every Thanksgiving.
After retirement, he was known by many as the old man on the golf cart who grew muscadines on Walker Branch Road. His great hobby was wine making, and he generously shared with his friends every Christmas and throughout the year.
He was also the man known for “holding court” at Hardees every single morning, surrounded by friends, sharing laughter and lies each morning at breakfast. He cherished those friendships.
John Ray was preceded in death by his wife, his three older sisters Winnie Hoffman, Mary Rhyne, Ruth Rhyne, and nephew William Dwight Rhyne, Jr.
He is survived by his daughter, Carole Hoffman Howell, and her husband Billy, grandson Devin Donnelly, his wife Justine, and great-granddaughter Penelope of White Hall, VA; grandson Matthew Donnelly of Lincolnton; nephew David Rhyne and wife Frances of Lincolnton; nephew Kenneth Rhyne and wife Tanya of Lincolnton; niece Shirley Rhyne Jones and husband Gary of Lexington, NC; cousin Barbara Shrum Blanton of Lincolnton; sister-in-law Sue Wise Johnson and husband Carroll of Lincolnton; and nephew Mike Johnson and his wife Fran of Lincolnton. In addition are many, many more nieces and nephews, and step-grandchildren William Howell, Hannah Howell Keister and husband Darren, and their two children, Nathan and Lorelai.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial contributions to Lincoln County Christian Ministries, 207 S. Poplar St., Lincolnton, NC, 28092, or to the music fund of First United Methodist Church, 201 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC, 28092.
Posted on 09 Feb 2017
Current Information
Contact
125 Dave Warlick Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092
704/735-2521