Joseph Bruce Hoofnagle, Jr.

Joseph Bruce Hoofnagle, Jr., 95, of Woodbine, MD, passed away on August 16, 2026. Born in Portsmouth, VA, he was the son of the late Mildred and Joseph Hoofnagle, Sr. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years, Shirley Buchanan Hoofnagle, and his brother, Charles. He is survived by his youngest brother, John.

Bruce is also survived by his five children, Elizabeth Volski (Al), Karen Steele (Richard), Stephanie Zeitler (Robert), Joseph Hoofnagle, III (Patricia), and Jennifer Smith (Cecil). Bruce is further survived by his grandchildren Alison Hamer (John), Brooke Weight (Chad), Brian Steele (Kati), Blaire Andes (Justin), Evan Volski (Claire), Jessica Burke (Matthew), and Michael Steele, and his great grandchildren Jacob and Adelaide Hamer, Bryson and Landon Steele, Raegan and Ryder Kanaskie, Oliver, Tyler, and Eleanor Andes, and Mason Burke.

Bruce graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in 1948 and married Shirley on December 27, 1951. He served honorably as a radar technician in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He later graduated from Virginia Tech with an electrical engineering degree in 1958 and earned his law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1963. Bruce practiced law in the state bars of Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and several Federal Courts. He also represented patent cases before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Bruce enjoyed a distinguished career as an Intellectual Property and Patent Attorney, spending 27 years with Western Electric, AT&T, before working for the Black & Decker Corporation.

After his retirement Bruce continued his law practice at home, serving clients both locally and internationally. During this time, Bruce provided care of Shirley at home for a long-term illness. He, his family and friends enjoyed his levity throughout his life. Bruce and Shirley will be interred together during a private service at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, Maryland.

In lieu flowers, donations to St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital.