Paul C. Hoffman, 73, of Wellsboro passed away early Monday December 7, 2020, at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA. Born June 21, 1947, in Pittston, PA to Joseph F. and Martha E. (Shulde) Hoffman, he married Margery E. Artley on July 30, 1988. Paul was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Wellsboro and the Endless Mountain Turners. He loved woodturning and enjoyed giving his creations to friends and family. He gave his wife useful and clever gifts, such as her first bread machine. He was a lifelong student of mythology and military history and always sought to impart his intellectual curiosity to his son. Prior to enlisting in the United States Air Force, he graduated from Scranton Prep and the University of Scranton. He served with distinction in the Vietnam War, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with First and Second Oak Leaf Clusters for his actions during combat and achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was an EWO on the EC-121r, EB-66 and the B-52H. After active duty, he attended Villanova, receiving a BS and MS in Civil Engineering. He obtained his PhD from Penn State and was a dedicated Nittany Lions football fan. He then worked as a professor at Auburn and later Villanova Universities while serving in the Air Force Reserve before concluding his working years serving as Director of Engineering Education and Research Partnerships for the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD. He was presented with a flag flown above the station upon his retirement. He is listed in Marquis Who’s Who as a noteworthy aerospace engineer, educator, and researcher.
Paul is survived by his wife Margery Hoffman of Wellsboro; a son: Johannes Hoffman of Brooklyn, NY; five sisters, whom he endearingly called “the Fates” in reference to Greek mythology: Bonnie Sanfacon (Thomas) of Vienna, VA, Ann Cotter of Darien, CT, Mary Frances Horvath of Havertown PA, Elizabeth Hoffman of Ardmore, PA, and Joan Blaum (James) of Shavertown, PA; a sister-in-law: Judith Artley (Charles Moses) of Framingham, MA; a brother-in-law: Craig Artley (Brenda) of Lakewood, CO; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother: Joseph Hoffman.
Friends and family are invited to a memorial service paying tribute to Paul’s life at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Wellsboro. Paul’s family has entrusted the Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home, 139 Main Street, Wellsboro with his arrangements. Those wishing to make a donation in his memory are asked to consider St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Pearl St, Wellsboro, PA 16901. To share a memory or condolence with Paul’s family visit www.tusseymosher.com.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Paul C. Hoffman, please visit our floral store.