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Submitted: 7/9/22 • Approved: 8/8/22 • Last Updated: 8/11/22 • R1439197-G1439197-S3
Eugene Paul Hobbs
US Army Air Forces
World War II
February 7, 1922 - January 3, 2014
Edith June Hebard Hobbs
March 12, 1927 - August 8, 2015
*Obituary
Eugene P. (Gene) Hobbs died Jan. 3, 2014, at the age of 91 in Van Buren.
He was born Feb. 7, 1922, to Ostie C. Hobbs and Nellie Testerman Hobbs in Schaberg.
He was married to Edith June Hebard on April 14, 1946, at First Baptist Church in Van Buren by the late Dr. T.J. Jordan.
He graduated from Fort Smith High School in 1940 and attended Fort Smith Junior College. He served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II from May 27, 1942, until Dec. 21, 1945.
He returned to Van Buren where he and his brother, George, owned and operated the Western Auto Store at 500 Main St. in Van Buren. After that, he went to work for Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Fort Smith. In 1954, he moved his family to Pine Bluff and then to El Dorado to manage stores for Goodyear. In 1957, they moved home to Van Buren. In 1962, he joined Citizens Bank and Trust Co. as cashier, later serving as vice president. During this time, he served as Van Buren city clerk/treasurer and was a member of the Rotary Club. He retired in 1997.
He was a member of Van Buren First Baptist Church, where he served more than 60 years as a Sunday school teacher, deacon and trustee. He also served as missions chairman and preached and taught at several local missions.
He was preceded in death by his grandson, Cody Blaine Bell; his parents; and his four brothers, Richard, Ray, Bobby and George Hobbs.
He is survived by his wife, June Hobbs of Van Buren; his daughter, Sherri Bell and husband Jimmy of Van Buren; his son, Stephen Ray Hobbs and wife Shareen of Van Buren; his son, Randall Gene Hobbs and wife Rosa of Alma; daughter Terri Hobbs and companion Cheryl Hill of Tulsa; his grandchildren, Kevin Bell and wife Edie of Van Buren, Dr. Chris Bell and wife Christy of Van Buren, Sage Hobbs and wife Naomi of Rincon, Puerto Rico, Eric Hobbs and wife Laura of Boulder, Colo., Natasha Evans of Bentonville, Nathan Hobbs and wife Deanna of Van Buren and Jordan Hobbs and wife Lola of Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah; and his great-grandchildren, Christopher, Blaine, Proving Grounds, Utah; and his great-grandchildren, Christopher, Blaine, Cortney, Jay, Bryan and Kylie Bell, all of Van Buren, Joe and Randy Evans of Bentonville, and Luke, Austin and Cheyenne Hobbs of Dugway Proving Grounds.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Kevin Bell, Dr. Chris Bell, Eric Hobbs, Nathan Hobbs, Christopher Bell and Blaine Bell.
His life was well-lived, spent loving and taking great care of his family, engaged in his community and serving the Lord he loved.
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church Chapel under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home in Van Buren with visitation following in the Fellowship Hall.
*Obituary
Edith (June) Hobbs, died at the age of 88 in Van Buren, Arkansas. She was born March 12, 1927 to Robert T. Hebard, Sr. and Alice Elizabeth Barnett Hebard in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
She married Eugene P. Hobbs on April 14, 1946 at First Baptist Church in Van Buren, by the late Dr. T.J. Jordan.
June graduated from Van Buren High School in 1945. During World War II she was in a trio that sang for local troops at Fort Chaffee. They sang at Bond Rallies and on local radio FKFPW located in the Goldman Hotel in Fort Smith. During this time she worked at the Ben Franklin Store on Main Street in Van Buren. This is where she met her husband to be, who had the Western Auto Store on Main Street.
June was a member of First Baptist Church in Van Buren where she taught every age in Sunday School from babies to senior adults for over 60 years. She also taught Bible School and served with her husband at local missions, She was always involved in the music ministry, singing in the choir, ensembles and solos.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene P. Hobbs; a grandson, Cody Bell; her parents; her brothers, Teddy Hebard and Robert T. Hebard, Jr.; her son-in-law, Jimmy Bell.
She is survived by her daughter, Sherri Bell of Van Buren; two sons, Stephen Hobbs and his wife, Shareen of Van Buren and Randy Hobbs and his wife Rosa of Alma; a daughter Terri Hobbs and her companion Cheryl Hill of Tulsa; grandchildren, Kevin Bell and his wife Edie of Van Buren, Dr. Chris Bell and his wife Christy of Van Buren, Sage Hobbs and his wife Naomi of Rincon, Puerto Rico, Eric Hobbs and his wife Laura of Boulder, CO, Natasha Evans of Alma, Nathan Hobbs and his wife Deanna of Van Buren, Jordan Hobbs and his wife Lola of APG, MD; great-grandchildren, Christopher, Blaine, Cortney, Jay, Bryan and Kylie Bell all of Van Buren, Randy Evans of Alma, Luke, Austin and Cheyenne Hobbs all of AQPG, MD and Maddox Hobbs of Van Buren.
Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. Monday August 10, 2015 at First Baptist Church of Van Buren with burial in Gracelawn Cemetery.
Photo courtesy of Frances Allen Titsworth
Contributed on 7/9/22 by Bill060
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Record #: 1439197