Christopher Sofield, 63, of Staunton, Virginia, and Upper Southampton, Pennsylvania, passed away unexpectedly in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, June 4, due to a sudden medical emergency.
Born on July 28, 1960, at Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol Township, Chris was the beloved son of Natalie and George Sofield of Levittown. He grew up in the Vermillion Hills section of Levittown, where the family home, complete with an in-ground pool, became a popular gathering spot for friends and family. Chris graduated from Pennsbury High School in 1978.
After high school, Chris pursued higher education at Bucks County Community College, Delaware Valley University, and Liberty University. He had a lifelong love of learning.
Chris began his working life at the Eric Cinemas in Fairless Hills and New Jersey, a job he fondly remembered. This experience led to his lifelong aversion to eating popcorn. He often joked, “I had too much when I worked at the theater.”
Following his time at the movie theaters, Chris embarked on a 40-year career in the paint and coatings industry. He started with Sherwin-Williams Paints in Trenton and the greater Central New Jersey region before moving on to Finnaren & Haley Paints, Duron Paints, and eventually back to Sherwin Williams Paints. At the time of his passing, he was employed as a territory manager for Glidden/PPG Paints, working with teams at the Home Depot stores and contractors in the Philadelphia and New Jersey regions. Over four decades, Chris perfected his knowledge of the industry, assisting both professionals and friends with his expertise.
Chris was also known for taking on various side jobs to meet new people and explore different opportunities. He performed sales and estimates for local painters, signed up new subscribers to the Bucks County Courier Times and Doylestown Intelligencer/Record in the 1990s and early 2000s, and engaged in many other small endeavors.
Chris was always ready with a business card or a special “friend card,” which had his personal contact information, listed his title as “friend,” and extended an invitation to join him for breakfast on Tuesday mornings.
In his 20s, Chris found his match in Ingrid, who he married and settled down with in Upper Southampton. The couple was blessed with a son, Tom, and they would have been married 38 years this September.
Chris spoke of his wedding and his son’s birth as the happiest and most defining moments of his life. He was thrilled when his son married Jenna, his daughter-in-law.
A devoted husband and father, Chris was known for his resourcefulness and dedication, carrying on the love he learned from his parents and siblings.
If there was a project to be done around the house, Chris found a way to complete it, often at little cost and quickly. If his son or wife needed anything, he made it happen. Apart from a few business trips away, he made time nightly to read a chapter from a book to his son when he was a child. He enjoyed taking the family on road trips, exploring cities and small towns, trying a variety of meals, and visiting historical sites.
Chris loved music and comedy, with a dash of sci-fi and war movies. He frequently attended rock and blues concerts, usually with his wife, and picked up playing guitar over the past 20 years. He often played Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd tunes. The beloved father and husband enjoyed the comedy of Groucho Marx, Steve Martin, Dave Chappelle, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, and many others.
Throughout his life, Chris had several rescue dogs and cats. Whether taking a dog on a walk or having a cat sleep on his chest, he spoiled and adored his pets.
A lover of parks, beautiful overlooks, and the majestic places on this planet, Chris always found ways to enjoy them. He and Ingrid loved walking in them.
Chris appreciated history and constantly sought knowledge about places, people, life hacks, engineering, the arts, and culture. His love of history and current events led to a constant interest in what was happening around him. This passion was passed down to his son, who became a journalist.
Chris enjoyed the “game of politics” and considered his involvement one of his hobbies. He volunteered and worked with several conservative causes and campaigns in recent years. Although he enjoyed sparring with people online about politics, he never let it define him offline.
Over the decades, Chris became a strong believer in the Christian faith, studying its teachings and enjoying fellowship with others. He participated in and led Bible studies, commonly framed around current events, and respected the beliefs of others while learning about different faiths. Chris was a three-decade member of the Christian Business Men’s Connection. He formed long-lasting friendships locally and nationally with its members.
Chris was active in many nonprofit organizations. He gave back to the community through various causes, including pet rescues and therapeutic equestrian riding programs. He was a proud 35-year blood and platelet donor to the American Red Cross.
Since his passing, the family has been comforted by hearing from hundreds of people who knew Chris and spoke of his friendship and service to them. His reach extended far and included helping friends with personal guidance and employment. Just weeks away from retirement and exploring his soon-to-be hometown of Staunton, he had already made many lasting friendships and had become popular with the squirrels, who he had been feeding peanuts to at the local park.
Chris enjoyed watching the Phillies and Eagles and was always up for a baseball game, attending one just a week before his passing. He, his son, and his wife enjoyed many Phillies and Trenton Thunder games together.
In addition to his love of travel, Chris especially enjoyed driving. He recently boasted about the 52,700 miles he had put on his car since picking it up last July.
While he loved working and planned to continue with part-time employment, he was eagerly looking forward to his retirement. In the days and hours before his passing, he spoke of his love for his wife, son, and daughter-in-law in a number of conversations with friends. He was thrilled his wife had grown to love Staunton and saw his vision for their new home, which he had already worked on extensively.
More than a decade ago, Chris began a journey to enjoy ice cream in all 50 states. Through his travels, he had scoops in at least a quarter of the states. His family will work to achieve his goal.
Although his life was cut short, Chris lived a full and adventurous life, was always honest, kind, humorous, and loved being around people. He was a man of simple needs and never got angry. He would let it all roll off his shoulders.
Chris never left anything unsaid, never stopped loving, and will never stop being loved.
Chris is survived by his siblings George H. Sofield III (Patricia Hiller) of Langhorne, Victor Sofield (Jane) of Levittown, and Trudy Volinsky (Jeffrey) of Langhorne, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. His parents and mother-in-law predeceased him.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kirk & Nice Chapel at 333 County Line Road in Feasterville, PA.
In true Chris fashion, he would want everyone to dress casually and be comfortable for his celebration of life.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Chris’ memory to the American Red Cross’ local chapter or the Christian Business Men’s Connection (CBMC). Monetary donations to the Red Cross can be made online and gifts to the CBMC can be made in memory of Chris Sofield, CBMC Mid Atlantic #3240, P.O. Box 8009, Chattanooga TN 37414-0009.
Chris would also encourage those who read this to consider donating blood or platelets, noting that some donation centers allow you to watch a movie while you donate and send you on your way with sweets.
