Featured Obituary

Warren E. Hoeffner, known affectionately to all as “Pap Pap,” departed this life on Oct. 5, 2008, in Colorado after a battle with cancer. Warren was born on Dec. 20, 1932, in Old Forge, Pa., to Frank and Margaret Hoeffner. He was a graduate of East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, where he was quarterback of the football team. Warren was inducted into the ESU Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the championship team in 1954 and as an individual in 2003. Although he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns upon graduation, Warren declined the opportunity to play professional football. Instead, Warren took a job as a high school teacher and football coach in East Brady, Pa., which began his lifelong love of teaching and education.

His coaching job in East Brady led to two of the most significant aspects of his life, his 47-year marriage to his loving wife Sandra, and his life’s work. His leadership on the football field in East Brady caught the attention of Kenneth Broderick, the president of the school board and of the leading industrial concern in the area, Rex-Hide Incorporated. Mr. Broderick introduced Warren to the lovely new music teacher who became his wife Sandra, and gave Warren a job at Rex-Hide. Over the 49 years of his career at Rex-Hide, Warren worked his way up from Purchasing Agent to President, CEO and Chairman of the Board. Under Warren’s leadership Rex-Hide grew from a manufacturer of one product, tire flaps, to a diversified conglomerate with manufacturing operations in six states of products ranging from extruded rubber to adhesives. Warren moved the company from Pennsylvania to Tyler, Texas, where he relocated with his family in 1977.

Warren was a devoted Christian who used his financial success to help others, starting the Hoeffner Family Foundation for charitable purposes. Warren has also for many years been a significant benefactor of ESU, where he funded the Warren Hoeffner Scholarship, and has been recently honored with the new Warren and Sandra Hoeffner Science and Technology Building. In addition, ESU has awarded Warren an honorary doctorate in recognition of his service to the University. Warren was a passionate snow skier and golfer. He owned homes in Colorado, Florida and Texas, and loved to golf and ski with his friends and family, taking great pleasure in his mastery of both and in teaching all of his children, in-laws and grandchildren.

Warren had a big family, who he loved more than anything. In addition to his wife, Sandra, Warren is survived by his five children, daughter Holly and husband Gary Kaplan of St. Louis; son Todd and wife Johnanna of Houston; son Brad and wife Helen of Tyler; daughter Noelle and husband John Barr of Houston; daughter Heather Hoeffner of Costa Rica; and 13 grandchildren (with another on the way), Remi, Hunter, Hogan, Ryan, Hallie, Alicia, Jake, Alexandra, Hanson, Warren, William, Savannah and Hudson. Warren was preceded in death by all of his siblings, brothers, Suter and Ted Hoeffner, and sister, Ruth Burns.

A celebratory service will be held in Tyler on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. at Marvin United Methodist Church, 300 West Erwin Street, Tyler, 75701. The family will receive friends at the Church at 1 p.m. Afterward, there will be a reception for family and friends at Willow Brook Country Club, 3205 West Erwin Street, Tyler, 75702. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Smith County Unit, 1301 South Broadway, Tyler, 75701, for brain cancer research.

Warren E. Hoeffner
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