GARDENA, Calif. - Ronald Franklin Hoffman, 82, of Gardena, Calif., passed away peacefully on June 5, 2018, shortly after a cancer diagnosis.
There will be a Celebration of Life from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Coney Island Lunchroom in Grand Island. All who remember him are welcome to stop by his favorite eatery and order a bite and share stories. Cremation and private internment will take place at Westlawn Cemetery in Grand Island.
He was born Aug. 13, 1935, in Grand Island and graduated from Grand Island High School in 1953. He attended Doane College in Crete for a year, then served in the U.S. Army, qualifying as a Light AAA Fire Control Crewman, serving in Japan and Korea, honorably discharged as a Spec 3rd Class in 1956. He served with Army Reserves until 1962.

He spent another year studying chemistry at Doane College and was a member of Sigma Phi Theta Fraternity, eventually graduating with a B.S. in computer science from Pacific Western University. He worked at the Hallam Nuclear Power Plant, then relocated permanently to southern California, where he spent his career as one of the original space cowboys in the new aerospace industry, where his interests and talents in astronomy, electronics, radio transmission and peacekeeping were a natural fit.
Ron began with Hughes Aircraft from 1963 to 1967, then remained with TRW (which later was Northrop Grumman) until retirement at age 79. He held a variety of positions, from RF test manager in electromagnetic application in the early Applied Technology Division of TRW, moving to the Defense Systems Division as a senior member of the technical staff in Spacecraft Operations Engineering, retiring with just short of 50 years from the Mission Operations group.
He received a variety of internal awards and recognitions for his contributions there. He traveled to many countries for his work. He enjoyed his occupation tremendously and was involved in many fascinating projects with outer space technology. His work team associates always appreciated his helpful attitude and friendly demeanor.
He married Louise Zamberlin Hoffman of Del Mar, Calif., on May 13, 1980. They resided in southern California and for a time in Alice Springs, Australia, and Brevard, N.C., on work assignments.
Ron was a part-time deputy sheriff with the LA County Sheriff's Department Reserve Company No. 3, and was Deputy of the Year in 1982. A lifetime sports car fan, he especially enjoyed their test track as well as the work serving his community. He joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1996 as a specialist reserve officer in the Pornography Unit of the Organized Crime and Vice Division, providing valuable insight and advanced skills developing programs to combat the onslaught of internet pornography abuse and was recognized for his contributions multiple times, retiring in 2010.

Ron was ordained as an Evangelical Protestant Pastor with the Ministers for Christ Assembly of Churches in 2010. His ministry was personally meaningful and brought him great comfort in his last days.
He is survived by his wife, Louise, of Gardena, Calif.; nieces, Nancy Forst Williamson of Lincoln and Debbie Maatsch of Jefferson, Colo.; great-nephews and niece, David and Gabriel Williamson of Lincoln, Jason Maatsch of Texas, and Diana Maatsch Westering of Eagle, Colo.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter A. and Alzada (Richardson) Hoffman, and his sister, Jarolyn Joan Forst. His birth name was Van Heusen.






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