George was born in Weehawken NJ to George F. and Caroline Hoppe on June 12, 1934. After graduating from Weehawken High School in 1952, George began a 30-year career with Bethlehem Steel Corporation in their drafting apprenticeship program at their Hoboken shipyard. Five years later he was drafted into the Army for two years where he served in Thule, Greenland and Fort Story, Virginia. He started as a Draftsman in the Engineering Department at Bethlehem Steel and became the Dock Master. During his career George dry-docked many famous vessels including the USS Lexington, the SS Manhattan and was the only US Dock Master to dry-dock the Cunard Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2). In 1982, when it became clear Bethlehem Steel was soon to be closing, George moved his family to Virginia Beach, Virginia where he became the first Dock Master at Norfolk’s Metro Machine Corporation, a position he held for 15 years.
After a total of 45 years in the shipyards George retired to enjoy his family; who he loved so dearly, his garden and his never ending list of projects. He was truly a handy mans' handy man, where no project was ever too big or too difficult.
George leaves behind his loving wife of 60 years Marlene, his son George Jr and his daughter Heidi as well as a host of nieces and nephews who join the family in missing their Uncle George.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Woodlawn Funeral Home. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service, with interment to follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Afterwards, the family would like to invite everyone back to the funeral home for light refreshments and to share memories of George.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George's name to the Virginia Beach Volunteer and Rescue Squad at https://vbvrs.org/donate/.
