September 23, 1924 – December 2, 2021
Wallace Andrew Hoffman, 97, of Manchester, NJ, went to rest in eternity with his loving wife Mabel on December 2, 2021. Born in Hackettstown, NJ, he lived in Long Valley, NJ all his life until moving to Manchester, NJ 36 years ago.
Family and friends are invited to the viewing on Monday, December 6, 2021, at the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 3010 Ridgeway Rd., Manchester, N.J. from 4 to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer and Masonic service. A burial service will take place on Tuesday December 7, 2021 at 11:30 a.m., at the Somerset Hills Memorial Park, 95 Mount Airy Rd., Basking Ridge, NJ.
During high school he enlisted in the US Army at the start of WWII in 1943. He was taken as a prisoner of war at the Battle of Monte Casino in Italy after being fired upon in a foxhole for 2 days, running out of food and ammunition. His parents received a telegram telling them that he was missing in action. At the end of the war he was freed after 16 months requiring medical treatment from diphtheria and malnutrition. His medals and awards included: Good Conduct, POW, European Theater of Operations, WWII Distinguished Service, Honneur et Fidélité, Silver Star, Automatic Rifle Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge.
In Long Valley, his employment consisted of working over 25 years at the Welsh Farms Dairy leaving as their plant manager. He is also credited for creating the first Washington Township Police Department where he served as a part time Chief of Police. At age 60 he retired from his dream job as a Rural Letter Carrier from the Long Valley post office. For 25 years, “Wally the Mailman” was loved by many.
Wallace loved having family around and believed that the best part of parenting was having grandchildren to play with and see their accomplishments. He was a loving father to his daughter Melia Hoffman and her husband Teddy McFadden of Manchester, NJ, and his daughter Ivalynn Oudin of Charlotte NC; his 4 grandchildren Rory McFadden, Madison McFadden, Zacques Oudin, and Chelsea Oudin Blake; and his great grandson Robert Mackenzie.
His hobbies included camping, gardening, playing cards, doing jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, using his iPad to check his email, Facebook, and playing online Solitaire. He especially looked forward to playing Rummy every day with his devoted caregiver Katie.
He was a lifetime member of the American Legion of Chester, VFW of Leisure Village West, National EX POW Group, started the first Ocean County American POW’s as second commander, a Past Master Mason in the Prospect Colonial Lodge 24 of Chester, Harmony Lodge #18 of Tom’s River, the Tall Cedars of Lebanon in High Bridge, a 32nd Degree Mason of the Valley of Northern NJ Scottish Rite, and the Shriners Club of Northern New Jersey, Past Masters Club, and a member of the RV Club
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