Charles W. Hoffman

Charles Hoffman (or "Pop," as his grand-daughters called him) was a machinist who, like so many others, lost his job in the Depression. He was saved by Roosevelt’s incentives and worked on the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), helping build a dam, making a natural swimming pool, etc. He showed it to his daughter Beverly proudly each time we went back to Lykens. He became part of the CMTC (Civilian Military Training Corps). He was a “sergeant,” had a wonderful time and many, many stories. He was in camp in Virginia.

When Beverly was born, Pop was “bootlegging coal,” and he and Beryl called their daughter their “bootleg baby.”

They left Lykens when Beverly was around one, and Pop got a job at the ACF (American Car and Foundry company), making machinery. In wartime, the ACF turned to making tanks. (One of Beverly's early memories is of tanks rumbling down the street.)

He did many jobs before that, doing anything he could to make money. He usually lied when he was hired and said that he was “skilled.”

At the ACF, he came under the tutelage of an old German machinist, who recognized his worth along with his lack of skill. He took Pop under his wing and secretly trained him. Eventually, Pop became a “Master Machinist” -- and he trained everyone who came his way, passing it on. They wanted him in management, but he chose not to.

During WWII, he was deferred because his work was considered essential to the war effort. After the war, the ACF was unionized and there were many problems and strikes. So Beryl and Pop moved to Philadelphia, where Pop worked for Stokes. He worked there until he retired to move to Concord.

A soft-spoken gentle giant of a man, who had been popular on most of the sports teams in his high school (which was as far as his education got.) He was a wonderful husband, a model father, and the world's best grandfather.