DATE: Wednesday, April 16, 1997             TAG: 9704160444

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   31 lines

MARY D. HOFFLER

Mary Davis Alston Hoffler, 83, died peacefully in her home April 15, 1997.

A native of Essex, N.C., she studied at Louisburg Conservatory of Music, Mars Hill College and UNC-Chapel Hill. She retired at age 74, having taught piano in Cradock for 33 years. She was a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the Cradock Music Club and was a charter member of the Tidewater Music Teachers' Forum.

Mrs. Hoffler was the widow of Hinton B. Hoffler and was preceded in death by her brothers, Claude K., Tom P. and J. Lindsey Alston; and sisters, Sadie M. Trammel and Peggy M. Alston. She is survived by two brothers, Luther L. Alston and his wife, Marjorie, of Suffolk and John J. Alston and his wife, Annette, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; sister, Edith G. Alston of Portsmouth; and sisters-in-law, Ann C. Alston and Gracie Shelton.

Also surviving are her two daughters, Mary Lindsey H. Hester and her husband, Michael, of Portsmouth and Elizabeth H. Dodd and her husband, Philip, of Downingtown, Pa.; four grandsons, Geoffrey P. Dodd and David M., Joshua R. and Benjamin M. Hester and his wife, Mary Kate; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday in Cradock United Methodist Church, where she was a member for 46 years, by the Rev. Michael Robbins. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park, Portsmouth. The family will receive friends in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, Friday from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Memorial gifts may be made to Cradock United Methodist Church. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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