George Robert Hoidra

George Robert Hoidra, age 74, passed away peacefully in his home in Laurel, MD on Sunday April 23rd.

George was born October 27th, 1948, in Greenville, South Carolina to George Hoidra and Corinne (Connie) Young Hoidra. At a young age he was lovingly given the nickname Ship (sometimes Shippa) by his family to differentiate between him and his father. George was born into an Air Force family, which meant traveling all over the world. Besides South Carolina, they lived in Texas, Alabama, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Virginia, Hawaii, Japan, and finally Maryland. He had many fond memories of life in Hawaii, including surfing and earning his pilot’s license so that he was able to fly small airplanes around the islands.  He had a great love of music, as can be seen by his vast album collection of mostly 70’s rock bands and his reel-to-reel tapes that he recorded. George was also very involved with his father’s WWII Air Force organizations, the 447th bomb group and the 8th Air Force Historical Society, and attended several events over the years. After his father’s passing, George continued his involvement with the groups by becoming a member of the board and helping organize reunions. Planning reunions was definitely something he was good at and enjoyed as he was the key organizer for the Hoidra Family reunions in Pennsylvania. Most of his career he was self-employed as a home improvement and remodeling contractor around the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. In his later years, he spent most of his time near home, holidays and birthdays with family, and the occasional bomb group event. 

George is survived by his wife Betsy, daughter Cindy (Jason), and son Steven (Sheri). He is also survived by his sister Carolyn (Don), five grandchildren: Lainey, Riley, Keegan, Landon, and Ember, and his niece and nephews. George was preceded in death by his father George and mother Connie. 

Services will be held at Donaldson Funeral Home, P.A. in Laurel, MD. Viewings will be held Monday May 1st at 2-4pm and 6-8pm and a final memorial will be held Tuesday May 2nd at 10am at the Donaldson Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the 8th Air Force Historical Society 

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