Soha, George A.

Item

Soha, George-1950.png
Soha, George-Draft Card.png

Title

Soha, George A.

Creator

Michelle Kukan

Birth Date

1918-04-24

Birthplace

Mahwah, NJ

Death Date

1964-04-11

Burial Place

Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ

Occupation

Postal Clerk (Mahwah Post Office, Mahwah, NJ)
Employee (American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company, Mahwah, NJ)
Caddy (Houvenkopf Country Club)

Military Branch

Rank

Private

Serial Number

32063236

Service Start Date

1941-03-17

Service End Date

1941-10-20

Military Service Description

George Soha enlisted into the United States Army on 1941-03-17. He was assigned to Company L, 13th Infantry Regiment. He was discharged as a private on 1941-10-20. 

Biographical Text

George Andrew Soha was born on 1918-04-24 in Mahwah, NJ. He was the oldest son of Michael Sr. and Mary (née Rimar). He had three younger siblings: Michael Jr., Mary, and John. The Soha family lived on Island Road, Mahwah. Soha was on the golf team at Ramsey High School. After his 1937 high school graduation, he worked as a caddy at Houvenkopf Country Club. In the late 1930s, Soha became an amateur boxer and a member of the Holy Name Society at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (Mahwah). In 1940, he was an employee at American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company. He played as a pitcher and first baseman for the company’s softball team.

Soha was a private in the U.S. Army in 1941. In 1942, he married Erma Ida Wastog. The pair were married until Erma’s passing in 1960. George and Erma had two sons, Michael and John. Soha, Erma, and their sons lived with Michael Sr., Mary, Michael Jr., and John on State Street (Mahwah). Soha began working at Mahwah Post Office as a postal clerk in 1943. In 1949, he was the secretary for the New York Office of the U.S. Civil Service Commission. Soha passed away on 1964-04-11. He was 45 years old.

Family Members

Father: Michael Sr.
Mother: Mary (née Rimar)
Siblings:
Michael Jr.
Mary
John

Wife: Erma Ida (née Wastog)
Children:
Michael G
John P

Bibliography

"103 High School Students Presented with Diplomas," The News, June 18, 1937, p. 62.

"79 Members of Holy Name Society Attend Breakfast After Receiving Communion at Heart of Mary Church," The News, March 20, 1939, p. 8.

"Announce Engagement," The Record, January 9, 1942, p. 16.

"Clerk-Carrier Job Open In Post Office," Ramapo Valley Independent, June 16, 1949, p. 2. 

"Four In Running For Postal Job," The Record, December 8, 1953, p. 4.

George Andrew Soha, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.

George A. Soha, Find a Grave.

George A Soha, New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Index, 1901-2016.

"George A. Soha," The Sunday News, April 12, 1964, p. 79.

George A Soha, U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985.

George A Soha, U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.

George Soha, 1930 United States Federal Census.

George Soha, 1940 United States Federal Census.

George Soha, 1950 United States Federal Census.

"Graduation Cuts H.S. Sport Ranks," The News, June 18, 1937, p. 18.

"How Would You Spruce Up Mahwah," Ramapo Valley Independent, March 9, 1950, p. 6.

"Knizeski Wins in Caddy Tournament," The Journal News, August 26, 1937, p. 7.

"Mahwah Fighters Win," The Sunday News, February 12, 1939, p. 21.

"Mrs. George A. Soha," Ridgewood Herald-News, February 18, 1960, p. 8.

"Two In A Row Puts Hillburn In Second Place," Ramapo Valley Independent, August 17, 1944, p. 7.

Photo Captions

Photo 1: Soha, circa 1950 (Harold Becraft).

Photo 2: Soha's draft card, completed on 1940-10-16 in Mahwah, NJ (Ancestry Library).

Collection

Citation

Michelle Kukan, “Soha, George A.,” Mahwah Veterans Project, accessed July 2, 2024, https://mahwahmuseum.reclaim.hosting/MVP/items/show/468.