Dec. 22, 1917 - Oct. 20, 2012

ELKHART — Dale E. Hoffman, 94, of Elkhart, passed away of natural causes at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, at Hubbard Hill Estates in Elkhart.

He was born in Decatur, Ind., on Dec. 22, 1917, to the late Otto and Verna (Owens) Hoffman.

Also preceding him in death are his spouses, Mary W. "Deane" (Rigdon) and Edna L. (Moyer) Eichorn; his brothers, Tom and Kenny Hoffman; and a grandson, Bradley Hoffman.

Surviving are his sons, Jerry (Nancy) Hoffman of Ann Arbor, Mich., Dick (Regina) Hoffman of New Palestine and Mark (Joanne) Eichorn of Granger; daughters Cheryl (Robert) Roswell of Edmond, Okla., and Rachel Eichorn of Elkhart; brother Chuck (Eileen) Hoffman of Sun City, Ariz.; sisters Virginia Gase of Fort Wayne and Phyllis Winteregg and Dorothy (Art) Beeler, both of Decatur; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at Billings Funeral Home in Elkhart. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, at the chapel at Hubbard Hill Estates, 28070 C.R. 24 W., Elkhart. Pastor Tim Henke will officiate.

Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola, where graveside military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard and Osceola American Legion Post 308.

Dale grew up as a farmer, but later worked for Miles Laboratories of Elkhart for many years, retiring in the early 1990s.

He also drove a school bus for several years, was an avid gardener and belonged to Trinity United Methodist Church of Elkhart.

He was an U.S. Army veteran during WWII, serving in Algeria, French Morocco, Tunisia and Sicily as an MP with the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.

Memorial donations may be made to the local DAV post of your choice. Online condolences can reach the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

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