Robert P. Hoffman

Robert P. Hoffman, 74, a native of Pine Bluff, died in his home in Little Rock on Wednesday October 9, 2013 surrounded by his wife and four daughters. Born in Harrison on June 11, 1939, he was the son of the late Harry Wilkerson Hoffman and Dorothy Taylor Hoffman and grew up in Searcy. Bob attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and graduated from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. He began his insurance career with the Glens Falls Insurance Company of New York and returned to Arkansas in 1965, where he eventually established Hoffman-Henry Insurance Corporation. As a leader in the insurance industry, he expanded Hoffman-Henry Insurance into one of the largest independent agencies in Arkansas. Bob retired in 2005 to spend time with his family, his friends, and his fishing. A well-regarded and admired community leader who loved politics from the grass roots level, Bob was an active supporter of the Democratic Party and an instrumental part of the campaigns of many local leaders, including State Senator Knox Nelson and U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers. He was also actively involved in the state elections of former President Clinton as Attorney General and Governor and was later appointed to serve on the Arkansas Transportation Commission. Bob's devotion to various community affairs in Pine Bluff included Fifty for the Future and The Industrial Foundation; but his heart always reached out to the lost, under-served, and under-privileged regardless of their religious, racial, social, or economic conditions. As we tried so hard to put Bob's life into words we came across his own that he left behind for us in his prayer book: "I fought a good fight and won. I ran a good race and finished first. No man has been blessed any more than I. God gave to me one of his finest creations for a soul mate, four wonderful children, sons-in-law that I could not have hand-picked any better myself, and grandchildren that would make any old man happy. So we are not here today to mourn the loss of Bob Hoffman but to truly celebrate a wonderful success story of a man while ‘living under the sun'. It is not the end but just the beginning of the most monumental task any person can ever undertake – looking God straight in the face and struggling for a few humble words. Trying so hard to express deep feelings of love, emotions, and gratitude for having been so blessed while living on HIS earth – a task I don't look forward to, but one that I accept and will give centuries of thought before taking to the challenge. So I pray that you give thanks for my life." ------- BH. Bob was a deacon and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff and later joined Trinity Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. Survivors include his wife, Grace Matthews Hoffman, to whom he was married February 14, 1972 in Pine Bluff; his children Susan and Ronnie Adams, Ellen and Mason Grashot, Claire and Wes McGeorge, and Grace Anne and Clay McGeorge; and eleven grandchildren. A private family graveside service will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park, to be followed by a memorial service on Friday, 10/11/13 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church located at 4501 Rahling Road in Little Rock. Arrangements by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home 13801Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. 72211. (501) 224-8300. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bob's memory in honor of his grandson to: Arkansas Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 11324 Arcade Drive, Suite 16 Little Rock, Ark. 72212. Online guestbook: www. rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.