Obituary of Hobson Ellis Rodenbaugh

Hobson Ellis “Hop” Rodenbaugh Dies at 101

After celebrating 101 glorious years with birthday cake on Sunday August 11, 2024, Hobson slowly declined and passed away peacefully on Friday, August 16, 2024, with his family by his side.  

As a young adult in Jersey City, NJ Hop attended Trinity Lutheran Church and belonged to the Lutheran League youth group.  World War II broke out and he found out that the Army was having a special school in New York City focused on electronics.  He enlisted in 1942, attended this school and became a member of the US Army Signal Corps at age 19.  After attending school and basic training at various camps, he was supposed to go to Europe, but his orders were changed, and he was sent to the Pacific.  When he arrived in the Marshall Islands, Japan surrendered.  From the Marshall Islands he moved on to the Philippines and then to Japan where his battalion took over all the communications from Yokohama to halfway to Tokyo.  He oversaw the office between those two cities, and he was responsible for installing phones and troubleshooting problems with a rank of Tech 4, (3 stripes).  He was supposed to get his next stripe on March 1, 1946, but was released before that happened on February 26, 1946.

Although Hop grew up in Jersey City, he spent much of his life in Pattenburg, NJ at the family home of his Great Grandmother, Olieva Kels.  On May 26, 1946, Hop married Virginia Marie Wands of Jersey City.  They had been sweethearts since he was 18 and she was 16.  In 1947 he joined the Masonic Lodge, rising through the chairs to Master in 1960.  He moved full time to Clinton, NJ in March of 1966 as one of the first residents of the new Clinton Knolls subdivision.  In 1970, Hop ran for town council and served for 3 years.  His last two years he served as police commissioner.  

Hop retired from his job at Western Union after 37 years and at age 64 joined the Union Township Senior Club of Hunterdon County, which was started by his father, Hobson C. Rodenbaugh of Pattenburg.  For the next 3 decades, Hop served as President and switched between first and second vice president for many years.  As vice president he oversaw travel.  During this time, he arranged for the group to travel to: Hawaii, Canada, Greece, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Panama.  He arranged for twelve cruises and many bus trips to various locations in the U.S.   The club became known as the “travel club” because of Hop. 

In 2023, he travelled to Clinton and celebrated his 100th birthday receiving recognition from former President Trump, Hunterdon County Commissioners (thanks to Mary Melfi), the NJ State Legislature and Peninsula Masonic Lodge No. 99 which recognized his 75 years of service as a mason, a feat rarely achieved.

Hop is survived by his younger brother Robert Rodenbaugh, Laurel, DE; sister-in-law Ingrid Wands, Oneida, NY; son, Hobson J. Rodenbaugh (Nancy) of Sarasota, FL and daughter, Gale Rodenbaugh Hamilton (Jeff) of Pittsboro, NC.  Also, grandchildren Lance and Stacey Rodenbaugh, Jeffrey Ross Hamilton (Gretchen) and two great grandchildren Jasper and Vera Rae Hamilton. Hobson is predeceased by his parents, Hobson Cortland and Hannah (Reinartsen) Rodenbaugh; wife, Virginia (Wands) Rodenbaugh and brother-in-law, John Arthur Wands.

A graveside service will occur on Thursday, September 5 at 11:30 AM at Bloomsbury Cemetery, 512 NJ-173, Stewartsville, NJ 08886 (across from the Warrenside Tavern.)  All are welcome to attend.  Arrangements are being handled by Martin Funeral Home of Clinton, NJ.

The family wishes to thank Liberty Home Care and Hospice Services for their immediate response and excellent care.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the campaign of Donald J. Trump. Please Click Here to Donate