Harold Hoffman

Harold L. (Hal) Hoffman, 81, loving and beloved husband, father and grandfather, and salesman extraordinaire, died peacefully at his home Wed., May 29, surrounded by his family. He was born in 1931 in Brooklyn to Fannie and Moe Hoffman and grew up in the New York area. He served his country in the Army Medic Corps. He joined National Chemsearch (later NCH Corp.) in 1965 and traveled the world as salesman, especially to the Far East. He relocated to Dallas with the company in 1971 retiring in 1999. He married Joan Johannsen in 1979 and his wife, children and grandchildren were the light of his life. He loved the beach, boating and swimming, and enjoyed cooking and baking (but not cleaning up). He embraced retirement with gusto, raising roses, taking photographs, cooking and entertaining, traveling with Joan and spending time with family. He and Joan loved their pets (Max and Lexi) over the years. They gave him great comfort during the last few months. He also enjoyed his close friends, many from his days at Chemsearch. He is survived by Joan Hoffman, his wife of 33 years and his three children, daughter Elizabeth Keller and her husband Robert, of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; daughter Lynda Mischel and husband Russell of Philadelphia, and son Roger and wife Tamie of Plano, Tx. He is also survived by his grandchildren Emily Curtis Brown and husband Doug; Stephanie Curtis; Molly Myers and husband Derek; Theodore Mischel and Morgan Hoffman; step grandchildren Matthew Keller and Jennifer Keller, and great-grandchild Franklin Myers. He is also survived by Christena Johannsen, Ruth Ann Emerick and her son Jeffrey, Kay Klinger and her husband David. Hal loved and was loved and considered to be grandfather by Lindsey and Shaina Eckhouse.Services will be at 2 p.m. at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home Friday, May 31 2013. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vitas Hospice, www.vitas.com.