Alden Victor Hoffman was born July 7, 1929, and died on July 17, 2013, in Vero Beach, Fla. at the age of 84.

Our father was born and raised in Oak Harbor, Wash. He had a tremendous love of Whidbey Island and the people who lived in this great Northwestern community.

He graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1947 and met his lifelong partner, Ella Mae Kirkpatrick. They were married in 1948 and enjoyed their long journey together until her death in May 2007.

Al was a carpenter for Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, retiring at the age of 55 with 37 years of service. Other than his wife and family, his great love was sports. He played football, basketball and baseball in high school.

After high school he played some football but primarily played basketball for the Oak Harbor town team that traveled the Northwest playing other town teams. His favorite was probably the Oak Harbor Oaks, the town’s semi-pro baseball team.

When his serious ball playing days were over he turned to coaching baseball for the Oak Harbor Little League Association for approximately 10 years, while continuing to play church league basketball.

Al was an Elks charter member of Lodge #2362 for 58 years and was a member of the Oak Harbor Methodist Church. He was an avid golfer and became a charter member of the Whidbey Golf and Country Club in 1961. Besides golfing, Al enjoyed having season tickets to the Seattle Seahawks beginning in their first year of 1976 and season tickets to the Uinversity of Washington Huskies. He finally discovered a better team in the WSU Cougars and was a loyal supporter for the rest of his life.

Al and Ella’s retirement was spent wintering for 23 years in Southern California, Lake Havasu, Ariz., and finally settling in the Sun City Grand community of Phoenix, Ariz. Golfing, traveling throughout the U.S. to visit family and friends, and entertaining themselves at various casinos was their great joy. Cocktail time with all their dear friends was always a special treat.

Dad and Mom relocated to Kennewick, Wash., in 2003, and after our mother’s passing in 2007, Al moved with his son and daughter-in-law to Vero Beach, Fla., in July 2011.

Al leaves behind his many dear friends in Oak Harbor. He never stopped telling stories and reliving memories he had, and his friends were always in his heart. He also made many new friends in all his travels and his final home of Vero Beach.

Alden is survived by his son Keith Hoffman (Linda) of Vero Beach, Fla., daughters Karen Byrd of Alexander, Ark. and Carol Hoffman of Lawton, Okla.; four grandsons, David Hoffman of Marietta, Ga., Daniel Hoffman (Nicole) of Puyallup, Wash., Kyle Byrd of North Little Rock, Ark., and Shaun Hernandez (Jennifer) of Lawton, Okla.; one granddaughter, Heather Price (Jeff) of El Paso, Texas; two great grandsons; Jacob Hoffman of Puyallup, Wash., and Preston Mehan of El Paso, Texas; seven great granddaughters, Jada Hoffman of Puyallup, Wash., Lindsey Hoffman, Christina Chastain and Kristin Kuettel of Marietta, Ga., Emma Price and Zoe Price of El Paso, Texas, and Isabella Hernandez of Lawton, Okla.

A family grave side service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor with a reception following at 2 p.m. at Wallin Funeral Home.

Memorials can be made to the Oak Harbor Little League Association or the American Heart Association.

Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com