Longtime Centralia businessman, Louis J. Stoffer, passed away peacefully March 16, 2022, at the age of 97. He was born in Tacoma in 1924 and moved to Centralia with his parents Louis and Anna (Exner) Stoffer two years later. He graduated from Centralia High School in 1942 and was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1943 where he was a flight engineer on B17s. He was assigned the 398th Bomb Group based in Nuthampstead, England and flew 35 missions over Europe.
After the war, he attended the University of Washington. During the summer of freshman year, he met his future wife, Betty Grimes, at a dance at the Centralia dance hall called Woody’s Nook and never went back. They were happily married for over 68 years, having two children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Louis joined his father’s business Stoffer and Son Sheet Metal. He took over the business when his father died in 1954. He expanded the business by building the Harrison Street location next door to his home on Harrison Avenue near Fords Prairie Elementary School. He continued working with his son until just before his death.
Louis was active in the 8th Air Force Historical Society and the 398th Bomb Group. He remained lifelong friends with his flight crew and attended reunions all over the country. He received a Purple Heart for a plane crash he survived in Belgium, however, two crew members did not. He helped with the Centralia Class of 1942 reunions and traveled with his wife extensively throughout Europe, Mexico and China. He was active in the Boy Scouts for many years and was a lifetime member of the Elks and Legion.
He was preceded in death by his wife Betty in 2014 and his sister Helen Bell in 2013. He is survived by daughter Patricia (Steve) Pennak; son Gary (Mary Anne) Stoffer; grandchildren Alexa (Ben) Betz, Jonathan (Mary) Stoffer, Joseph Stoffer, and Julie (Ronald) Welty; and five great-grandchildren.
We wish to thank Welcome Home in Chehalis for making his last days comfortable. Funeral arrangements have been made by Newell-Hoerling Mortuary. Graveside services will be held at 11am on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Mountain View Cemetery. Lunch will follow.
