William Ruel Hoffman

William Ruel “Bill” Hoffman was born on August 7th, 1951, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Ruel S. Hoffman and to Mildred E. Deboer, and passed away on September 15th, 2023, in Granbury, Texas, at the age of 72 years old.

Bill, a Texan through-and-through, was born in Fort Worth, but raised in Midland. Exposed to the allure of the money that could be made in the oil field, Bill began working as a hand in his teens. As he grew in knowledge, strength and stature, he progressed from being a “hand” to becoming one of the youngest Rig Managers, being a Tool Pusher and into the arena of Directional Drilling from which he retired.

As a young man, Bill travelled extensively, working in Saudi Arabia, Libya, Malta, Jamaica, Peru, Iran and other countries. In later years, most of his work was in West Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.

Bill enjoyed an occasional Crown Royal (bottle, not just a drink!) and pretty much created lots of mischief wherever he was. Mention Bill's name in the Midland American Legion or any given honky-tonk in Midland, and there will be a story! He was a rough-and-tumble guy, who never backed down from much of anything. P.J. and Bill moved to Pecan Plantation in Granbury where Bill, perhaps a bit mellowed, managed to amass a great group of ‘best buddies’. The ritual to becoming best friends seemed to involve WAY too much alcohol, some perceived slight or insult to one or both parties, threats to beat each other up, going home and sleeping it off and meeting the next day to drink, golf, laugh and profess their extraordinary friendship. Bill lived through all this nonsense, could not be held down by man nor beast but finally met his final antagonist: cancer. It was not a fair fight. Bill lost but he faced it with honor, resolve and a sense of humor.

Bill is preceded in death by his Father, Ruel S. Hoffman.

Bill is survived by his mother, Mildred E. Hoffman, by his beloved spouse, P.J. Hoffman, by his brother, Cliff Hoffman, by his nephew, Kyle Hoffman, by his step-daughters, Gina Smith and Sandy Swann, and by his grandchildren, Ryan Arnett, Xander Smith and Dallas Swann.

At Bill's request, no service will be held but feel free to hoist a glass in his honor.

The stories will never end …

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