William (Bill) Hoder passed comfortably and peacefully in his sleep on Sunday morning, December 13th. He was 91 at the time. Bill was born August 5, 1929 in Dover, NY to the late Joseph and Anna G. Hoder. He grew up in Pawling, NY with his two brothers and one sister. He attended a one room schoolhouse called Hurds Corner School and graduated from Pawling High school at the age of 16. Bill continued his education at Bliss Electrical School in Washington, DC. Bill worked for General Electric in Pittsfield, MA for three years as a transformer test technician and then enlisted in the US Navy for four years. After nine months of studies at Great Lakes, IL, Bill was assigned to the USS Maurice J. Manuel DE 351, a destroyer escort. He received his honorable discharge in 1954. While in the navy he met Carolyn McDaniel at the Charleston, MA YMCA and married her a year later. After his discharge from the Navy, Bill attended Union College in Schenectady, NY where he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. Bill then worked four years as an Electrical Engineer for General Electric in Syracuse, NY after which he transferred to Norden, a division of United Technologies in Norwalk, CT. Bill continued his studies at University of Connecticut until he received his Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1968. Bill retired in 1988 and began teaching at Sacred Heart University and Norwalk State Technical School. Bill and Carolyn lived in Fairfield, CT with their five children: Margaret, Stephen, David, Priscilla and Andrew. David was killed in a car accident at the age of 17. Upon retirement, Bill enjoyed carving small figurines with the woodcarvers group at the Senior Center in Fairfield, CT. After moving to Covenant Living of Cromwell in 2000, Bill’s tailoring skills, which he learned as a teenager, were in much demand by other residents. Bill was also busy as a manager of the small village store at CLOC, working on a project in the woodshop, chair caning, and playing ping pong. He carved several Swedish horses which he donated to the annual CLOC Benefit Gala. Bill is survived by his wife Carolyn; two sons: Stephen Hoder (with his wife Cathy) of Southington, and Andrew Hoder (with his wife Laura) of Fairfield; and his two daughters: Margaret Shelley (with her husband Levi) of Fairfield, and Priscilla Vittori (with her husband Robert) of Shelton. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Lemanuel, Levi David, and Silas Shelley; Alex (with his wife Juliane), Sarah, and James (with his wife Franchesca) Hoder; Matt and Emma Vittori; and Katie and Grace Hoder. He is also survived by his brother Joseph Hoder of Park Ridge, NJ. He was predeceased by his son David Alan, his sister Mary, and his brother Edward. A memorial mass will be held at St. John’s Church, Cromwell at a later date at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, Fairfield, CT at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the CLOC Benevolent Fund. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to: Carolyn Hoder 52 Missionary Road APT 221 Cromwell, CT 06416
