William G. Von Hoff, 99, was born on March 19, 1926, in Batavia, Illinois, and passed away on March 4, 2026, at the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home in El Paso, Texas. William is the third child of Otto Isadore Von Hoff and Minnie Ellen (Coester) Von Hoff (both Deceased). His older siblings are George Von Hoff (Deceased) and Mildred Hollis (Deceased). His younger brother, Charles Von Hoff, lives in Illinois.
At age nine, William had the largest newspaper delivery route in town. He later handset bowling pins, two lanes at a time, at the local bowling alley. He joined the United States Navy at 17 years old, following his older brother George. He completed basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Center at North Chicago and was stationed as a Baker Second Class at Pacific Beach Naval Base in Washington State. The base is now a Navy Resort and Conference Center. He also served at Pacific Beach Naval Station in California. William met Claribel Lee Coffey while in Washington State. They were married on January 16, 1945, by the Methodist Church minister in Aberdeen Washington. Following his Navy enlistment, William returned to Batavia, Illinois, where he became an electrical lineman.
When he and his wife became Christians they attended the Aurora, Illinois Foursquare Gospel Church and soon thereafter moved to Los Angeles, California to attend LIFE Bible College in preparation for pastoral ministry. Upon graduation, they pioneered the Foursquare Gospel Church in Vincennes, Indiana. Following an additional pastorate in Joliet, Illinois, they were selected by the foreign mission board of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel to be missionaries to Latin-American countries. They served in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Santiago, Chile, developing pastoral training Bible Institutes. They also served as managers for para-church orphanages in Honduras, and Baja, California (Mexico) and as home managers for the Bridwell Home (boys' unit) at the Methodist Home complex in Waco, Texas.
After their time in Waco, Texas, William and Lee pastored churches in Blythe, California and North Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon leaving active pastoral ministry in 1978, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where they settled in the first home they ever purchased. William and Lee were active in Crossroads Church of Albuquerque and held services at the Albuquerque Rescue Mission for over 15 years. Lee passed in 2020 after a marriage to William spanning 75 years and 7 months. William subsequently lived with his son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Beverly, until he joined the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home "family" on February 10, 2026.
William Glen Von Hoff was a WWII veteran, son, husband, father, pastor, missionary and Bible educator, and a friend to all. William has four children; daughter Bobbie in Olympia, Washington, and three sons, Allan in Maryville, Tennessee, Steven in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Gordon from Kearney, Nebraska (Deceased); Grandchildren; Kerry (Deceased), Jodi, Kimberly, Jeremy, Shelly, Shari, Jason, Nicole, and Kylie; 18 Great Grandchildren, 12 Great-Great Grandchildren; many nieces and nephews with their families.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Crossroads Church of Albuquerque. Rev. Tom Pennington, Pastor, will be the Officiate. The church will provide a follow-up fellowship after the service. The address is 5200 Marble NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.
William and Lee Von Hoff will be interred in the Fort Bayard National Cemetery at 11:00am on Monday, April 13, 2026, with Full Military Honors. The Rev. Tara Soughers, Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard, will be the Officiate. The church will provide a follow-up fellowship in Parish Hall at 615 N. Texas Street, Silver City, New Mexico.
Family has requested Terrazas Funeral Chapels to share the graveside ceremony service on Facebook Live. Please click https://www.facebook.com/terrazasfuneralchapels to view live feed at the time of scheduled Graveside service.
We will not bid Dad and Mom "Good-bye", but rather "So long...", for we know they are in God's presence and we will soon be reunited forever.
Cremation has taken place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.
