James Wright Hobbs

James W. Hobbs, 90, died on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, after a short illness. Jim was born to Marconi Hobbs and Lucille Pitts Hobbs on March 5, 1934, in Wichita Falls, Texas. His father passed away when he was only nine years old, but he grew up in a household surrounded by family and love, including two brothers, three cousins, an aunt, and his beloved grandmother, Mama Pitts. Jim attended Alamo Elementary and Zundy Jr. High, and graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1952. He then left Texas to attend the Colorado School of Mines, where joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and played on the football team. After graduating with his Bachelor’s in petroleum refining engineering in 1956, he joined the Navy and became a Seabee. The highlight of his military service was his tour of duty in Antarctica during 1958, the International Geophysical Year. In honor of his work there, the highest peak in the Williams Hills of Antarctica was named for him: Mount Hobbs. Jim’s career was spent working in the petroleum industry. He returned to Mines and earned a master’s degree, and was awarded a number of patents while working for Applied Automation and Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Sweeny, Texas. He married Karen Hobbs in Bartlesville in 1966, and they had a daughter three years later. He eventually retired to Kerrville, Texas, where he attended the First United Methodist Church and built a wonderful community of friends. He loved playing tennis and racquetball and made many friends on the courts. He attended John Newcombe's Tennis Fantasies camp twice, where he hobnobbed with such distinguished tennis professionals as Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson and John Newcombe himself. He also dearly loved making music, and often introduced himself as an "internationally unknown folk singer." From playing the guitar in his high school band, The Westerners, to singing and playing banjo with the Saints Alive chorus in Kerrville, his life was full of song. Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Lucille Rains, and his brothers, John Mark Hobbs and Jerry Allen Hobbs. He is survived by his daughter, Ellen Hobbs, her wife, Kyre Osborn, and his grandson, Fergus Osborn-Hobbs; and Karen Hobbs. Services may be planned for the future; for now, we encourage you to raise a glass of champagne in his memory and sing one of his favorite hymns, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” or “I’ll Fly Away.” Or maybe just “Good Night, Irene.” There are many charitable organizations to which he donated regularly. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to one of his favorites: o Mercy Ships o Texas Childen’s Hospital o Hill Country Youth Orchestras o San Antonio Food Bank o Doctors Without Borders

James Wright Hobbs

March 5, 1934 - September 10, 2024