John H. Hoge, age 92 of New Knoxville, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at his residence.

He was born on January 1, 1932, in New Knoxville, the son of Arthur and Meta (Meckstroth) Hoge. He married his wife JoAnn “Woody” (Heywood) Hoge on January 16, 1953, in Columbus, Ohio. She passed away on October 23, 2024.

He is survived by three children: Jann (Oliver Dudley) Hoge of Southfield, Michigan, Jill McClure of Royal Oak, Michigan, and Jack (Rebecca) Hoge of New Knoxville. He is also survived by four grandchildren: John (Molly) McClure, Darrell (Sara Umlauf) McClure, Krista (Lanny Almon) McClure, and Meta Hoge; and by seven great-grandchildren: Aliyah Jordan May, Carnieche McClure, Giselle McClure, Eli McClure, Nova McClure, Bryant McClure, and Miriana McClure.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brothers, William Hoge and Dean Hoge.

John was a 1949 graduate of New Knoxville High School and a 1955 graduate of The Ohio State University, with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.

He was a lifelong member of the First Church of New Knoxville. He was active in the New Knoxville and Auglaize County communities with the St. Marys Kiwanis Club and the Neil Armstrong Airport Authority. He was also the Secretary and Treasurer of New Knoxville Telephone Company and was the former Auglaize County Jury Commissioner. 

John was the owner and president of Hoge Lumber Company in New Knoxville. He enjoyed selling lumber products across the country and globe, including hardwood sports flooring in China beginning with the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He traveled to China many times to work with the Hoge sales team in Shanghai and enjoyed spending time with the friends he made there. 

In addition to his trips to China, he and his family loved to travel abroad and over the country, including to “The Shoe” to watch Buckeye football. John had many interests, including history, politics, and geography. He loved flying and flew a Piper Arrow. He was a people person and never met a stranger. He enjoyed telling stories and jokes.

Funeral rites for Woody and John will be held 10:30 A.M. Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the First Church of New Knoxville, the Reverend Joel Bucklin, officiant.

Friends may call from 9:00 A.M. until the time of services on Saturday at the church where memorial donations may be given to either the New Knoxville Historical Society or Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.

Vornholt-Miller Funeral Home, 200 West Spring Street, New Knoxville, is entrusted with John and Woody’s funeral arrangements. Memories and condolences may be sent to their family via Millerfuneralhomes.net