Robert Hoffman, long-time Korean missionary, dead at 80
By Rheta Murryrhetam@thedailytimes.com
Originally published: November 19. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: November 18. 2009 10:00PM
Robert E. "Bob" Hoffman, longtime missionary to Korea and pastor in East Tennessee and Kentucky, died Tuesday at his home in Maryville after many weeks of illness with fast-growing acute myeloid leukemia. He was 80.
The son of Presbyterian missionary parents, Hoffman was born May 13, 1929 in Korea, one of six children. According to the family, his father was one of the first missionaries in Korea. The family, including young Hoffman, returned to the United States when World War II broke out.
He graduated from Wooster College in Ohio and Princeton Theological Seminary and worked with a mission church on weekends. Hoffman and his wife, Marilyn, were married in 1953. Two years later, the couple moved to Korea where they served in the mission field for 20 years for the Southern Presbyterian Church.
Locally, the Hoffmans served in a church in Greenback. Nearing retirement, Bob Hoffman taught Greek and other subjects at Hiwassee College.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville.
This story was edited for presentation on the Web. Additional information and details are available for subscribers only. If you want every word of Blount County's best news and information source you can get home delivery and e-edition subscriptions here. Nobody knows Blount better than The Daily Times, your hometown newspaper for 125 years and counting.