Obituary of George Dayhoff

George William Dayhoff was born October 19, 1941 in Smithburg, Maryland. He grew up with his two older brothers in the family home. He graduated from Smithburg High School and attended 2 years at Penn State where he studied drafting and other pre Architectural studies. He was active in the US Army from 1963 to 1965 and in the Reserves until 1969. He left college to work at Fairchild Aircraft Industry but was laid off at the end of the Viet Nam War having only worked there about 4 years. He married in 1968 and Scott was born in 1971 the same year he was laid off. He then worked odd jobs mostly in construction and high end furniture making. He was divorced in 1975 and moved to Jacksonville in 1978. He worked at Regency Kitchens until his first congestive heart failure and went on disability in 1997. He and Esther met when she bought the house next door to him in 2001. They were engaged in 2002 and began coming to San Jose Church of Christ. He had previously been a member of New Life Christian Fellowship, and before that in New Coventry and had been raised a Lutheran. He was baptized on July 6, 2004 at San Jose Church of Christ where he was faithfully attending until the Sunday before he passed away.

Bill or "Mr. Bill" or "Grandpa Bill" as he was called was a quiet, kind gentle soul with a big heart. He was always helping others. This is what had attracted Esther to him. He was also funny with a dry sense of humor. He was patient and slow and was the right person for Esther who is fast and inpatient. He liked to do things his way and was always right. He had two strokes last year in November and December and was entered into Hospice Care at Home in January of 2015. He continued doing what he wanted to do which mostly consisted of going to church and working on his step-son, Daniel Lenz's, house. He was proud of the work he had done and tried to stay alive until Daniel comes home in January so he could tell him about everything and he could see the look on his step-son's face that will undoubtedly show shock, surprise and total appreciation for a man he had grown to love and call Papa Bill. It was a blessing that although Daniel did not get to give him the hug in person that I am sure he wanted to, Daniel's voice was the last one he communicated with on the phone before the ambulance came for Bill. After Bill handed the phone back to Esther he closed his eyes and was no longer communicative with anyone. In less than 24 hours he was gone.

This man, a strong faithful Christian neighbor, husband, father, brother and friend will be missed by many with fondness and love.