Allen Gregory Hoffman

Retired aerial crop spraying operator and Eureka Flat wheat farmer, Allen G. Hoffman, peacefully passed away in the evening of December 13, 2011 at Park Manor Rehabilitation Center. He was 90.

The 2nd of four children, Allen was born August 25, 1921 to Phillip and Evelyn Gregory Hoffmann in Walla Walla and was raised on one of his grandfather’s farms. He attended Eureka grade school, and in 1937 participated in the Boy Scout Jamboree held in Washington DC. He was later a student at North Hollywood High School in Ca. and graduated from Prescott High School (class of 1940). On January 6, 1942 he married Dorothy Elizabeth Thompson in Seattle. At the time, he was employed by the Boeing Company building aircraft for the war effort.

He enlisted in the US Army and served from December 1942 to December 1945. As a staff sergeant and technician assigned to the 531st Ordinance Tank Maintenance Co., he was deployed to England and Germany. Upon returning to the states he began farming with his dad and brothers, and learned to fly along with his brothers at Martin Field via the GI bill. By 1949, he had completed the constructed of his own home that he built from scratch utilizing timbers from an old bunk house. In conjunction with farming, he operated Phillip Hoffman & Sons Aerial Applicators and later, Hoffman Aviation, which added air charter and air ambulance services. During the 1950s the business serviced farmers from Eureka to the Palouse Country. The pilots and crew camped-out at remote airstrips with the equipment and Piper aircraft.

Allen had been an active member of the International Flying Farmers since 1952, and had flown his Fairchild, Navion, two Beechcraft Bonanzas, and a Cessna 310 throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Countless fly-ins, square dances, family reunions, snowmobile and old car activities had been hosted in his hangar. He was a member of the Walla Walla Country Club, Eureka Flat Grange, and the Prescott Lions. Recreationally, he was involved with the Model A Club, the Washington Historical Auto Club, the Walla Walla Yacht Club, and the Elks Motor Home Wheelers.

Allen is survived by his wife, Dorothy, at home and his two sons: Philip and wife, Dale; and Greg and his wife, Linda. Six grandchildren: Wendy Hoffman, Scott Hoffman, Brittany Hoffman, Preston Hoffman, Cheryl Goudy, and Jarrad Morgan. Great-grandchildren: 4. Nieces & nephews: 12. A sister: Mrs. Wallace Mann (Phyllis); and a brother: John Hoffman and his wife, Sharon. Allen was preceded in death by his parents: Phillip (1991) and Evelyn (1965), and his older brother, Curtis (2010).

Viewing & visitation will be held on Monday, December 19, 2011 from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM at the Herring Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA. The Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 11:00 AM also at the funeral home with Pastor Tom Rush officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Ft. Walla Walla Museum through the funeral home.