Colonel (Ret) William "Bill" Hospodar US Army

Colonel (Ret) William “Bill” Hospodar, US Army passed away on August 3, 2026 at the age of 83. Bill was born on October 11, 1942 in Sagamore, PA to the late Andrew and Rose (Varcso) Hospodar. Also preceded in death by siblings John Hospodar, Andrew Hospodar, Elizabeth Szary, Mary Puchalski, Rose Kuhar, Paul Hospodar, Helen Bonarrigo, and Dorothy Renosky.

Bill was a 1960 graduate of Shannock Valley High School, where he played football and basketball. Following graduation, he received his Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of PA and completed ROTC training, He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army and served 2 combat tours of duty during the Vietnam War. Bill’s military awards include the Master Parachutist badge, Bronze Star with Cluster, Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman badge. He was also a ROTC instructor at The Ohio State University, where he earned his Master’s Degree in Education. Bill retired from the Army with the rank of full Colonel after serving 28 years in the United States Army. Following his military service Bill served as the inaugural Director of Veteran’s Affairs for The Ohio State University, establishing and leading this new department for another 15 years.

Bill was the tenth child of Slovak immigrants, who came to the US in search of a better life and worked hard to raise their family in the coal towns of western Pennsylvania. Bill was a proud Byzantine Catholic with an unwavering faith. Bill was also a master gardener and spent many days tending his vegetable gardens, prize zinnias and trimming his spruce trees.

Bill will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 56 years Margo (Beech) Hospodar; children Andrew (Sonia) Hospodar, Allison (Mike) Stevie, Adam (Lesley) Hospodar, and John (Sharona) Hospodar; grandchildren Lily Hospodar, Joe Hospodar, Mary Hospodar, Shlomi Hospodar, Andrew Hospodar, Beni Hospodar, Sofia Hospodar, and Adele Hospodar; brother US Army Colonel (Ret) Edward (Sally) Hospodar; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00pm on Sunday, August 9, 2026 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00am on Monday, August 10, 2026 at St. John Chrysostom Church, 5858 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43231, officiated by Father Robert Jager. Military burial to be held at Arlington National Cemetery on a future date. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories and condolences.