Former food industry executive Charles W. Hofmeister, 84, died January 19.
A Baltimore native, Hofmeister began his food career in 1942 as a 16 year old part-time clerk with Food Fair Stores and ultimately spent 49 years in the food industry, rising to executive vice president of operations for Super Fresh.
Hofmeister was drafted at the age of 18 for service in WWII. He joined the 82nd Airborne Division 504 Infantry Regiment and was shipped to Europe to join the Battle of the Bulge. During that conflict, he was wounded and captured by the Germans. He was liberated after three weeks, reactivated and then shipped back to the U.S. For his service, he received a Purple Heart and other citations.
Returning in 1946 from his military service, Hofmeister rejoined Food Fair as a grocery clerk. He was later promoted to division grocery head buyer. Overall, his Food Fair career spanned 40 years.
In 1981, Hofmeister joined the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company as vice president of merchandising for the Mid-Atlantic Group. He was later promoted to the positions of group vice president of the Mid-Atlantic Group and executive vice president of the Super Fresh Supermarkets before retiring in 1991.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Inge Hofmeister of Severna Park; three sons, Michael Hofmeister (Rebecca), Stephen Hofmeister (Sandra), and Thomas Hofmeister (Donna); and 14 grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorials Processing Center, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058.
