Charles Hober

Charles Hober, 97, died peacefully at his home in Jenner’s Pond, West Grove, PA on September 5, 2024. He had congestive heart failure. He was the husband of Alice Hober who passed away in 2011.

He was born and grew up in New York City. His father died suddenly and unexpectedly when he was only two years old. So, he was raised by his mother, an opera singer, with help from his cherished older sister. He excelled academically, especially in mathematics, as well as in sports, attaining eight varsity letters in high school.

At age eighteen, Charles entered the navy, near the end of World War II. A year later he began attending the University of Michigan, from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

In 1950, Charles began his long career with the Dupont Company, starting as a draftsman designer in Wilmington, DE. He was soon promoted to an engineering position at the Savannah River nuclear power plant in South Carolina working on the safety control system. He liked to tell a story about how he solved a nuclear control rod problem by simply switching one electrical wire with another. In fact, he received a Dupont award for his exceptional work at the plant.

Charles continued to work for Dupont in Newark, DE, rising to positions of management. He married and raised his family there. Although not an architect, he used his drafting skills to design his own home, which he had built in the Covered Bridge neighborhood, and in which he lived until after his retirement.

He and Alice then moved to Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community. For many years after Alice passed away, he enjoyed the social life there, including playing bridge and Wii bowling, and enjoying deep friendships and companionship.

He loved music, especially Romantic era classical music and the Great American Songbook. Most of all he loved his friends and family, and was always there for them.

He is survived by his children, James Hober (Nina Port), Katherine Zaiser (David Zaiser), and Janet Goddard (Hank Goddard), and his grandchildren, Adam Zaiser, Henry Goddard IV, and Gillan Goddard.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 2nd at 2:00 pm in the theater at Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community, 2000 Greenbriar Lane, West Grove PA