Albert Wesley Hoge

Albert Wesley Hoge of West Chester Albert Wesley Hoge, 97, of West Chester, passed away peacefully on Aug. 8, 2013 at his home. As he requested Wes was surrounded by family and dear friends. His burial was held privately at Philadelphia Memorial Park, Frazer, on Aug. 10, 2013. He was born in Canton, Ohio to the late Ross and Florence ( Kettler) Hoge. Surviving are two sons, Russell and Ronald, and the memories of his late wife Sara ( Hall) who died in 2006 and his beautiful daughter, Shirley ( wife of Kenneth Ballinger of Kennett Square), who passed in 2009. He will be missed by his seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, a niece Kathy Heaton and nephew Martin Hoge. Mourning his loss as well will be countless friends and members of other related families. Wes was born of a humble Christian family and never forgot those roots, even as he went on to contribute to a better world. An excellent student, scholarships to Wittenberg College and Ohio State University earned him a BS degree in metallurgical engineering in 1937. He moved to Ridley Park to work for UGI. In 1940 he became one of the first engineers to work directly with Eugene Houdry to demonstrate the Houdry process to make very high octane gasoline and aviation fuels. The basic technology, which is still in use today around the world, was instrumental in the Allied victory in WWII. Wes became president of Houdry Process and Chemical Co., which was later purchased by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., from which he retired in 1980 as vice-president. He and Sara were married 64 years. They devoted their lives to all of their extended families and to their Methodist churches, singing and performing in choirs and holding many leadership positions. Wes was a talented pianist and president of his church choir until age 89! He loved the good times with family and friends over 40 summers in Ocean City, N.J. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25th, at the United Methodist Church of West Chester, 129 S. High Street, West Chester, PA 19382. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to Friends of Hearts For Honduras Foundation, PO Box 118, Liberty Corner, NJ 07938. www.maugergivnish.com