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John D. Hobbs left us in the early evening of September 9, 2003. He died following a brief illness, but had been physically disabled with arthritis since June, 1997. He was born December 11, 1919 in Hot Sprints, AR To George Washington Hobbs and Lillian Bell Hoskins. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters and a nephew. He is survived by his wife, Lavonia Clark Hobbs; his daughter, Erica D. Hobbs of Albuquerque; and his stepson, Tony Bill Buries; and his nephew, Stephen John Klima of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Johnny was baptized into the Church of Christ in his early years in Hot Sprints. At around age 12, he moved to Detroit, Michigan where he graduated from high school. World War II broke out, and he started training as an Air Cadet in Omaha, Nebraska and at Wichita Falls, Texas, and later at Indio, California where his training plane crash-landed and he suffered a back injury, and was unable to continue training as an Air Cadet, so he was stationed in Washington, DC for the remainder of the War. Following the war, he returned to Michigan and entered Wayne College, then transferred to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he studied law under the G.I. bill, and also at the branch law school in Little Rock, until the G.I. bill ran out. John was a namesake of his maternal uncle, John Divine Hoskins, who was a prominent lawyer and District Attorney in Hot Springs. John came to Taos in December, 1951. He married Lavonia in Santa Fe, NM on September 6, 1952. When John first arrived in Taos, he worked awhile for Lozier Frank in his then, variety store on the plaza, and for awhile for Dick Grainger's Electric. He also did substitute teaching and sold insurance. About 1956-57 he was appointed Justice of the Peace in the Ranchos de Taos area, where he was well liked and considered a good and fair judge, but he was defeated in the next election. He then worked in the Laboratory at Moly Corp. until his retirement in 1982. John liked hunting, fishing and wildlife. He also liked playing tennis and was considered by some, in his earlier years, as being almost professional. He had many friends and acquaintances in the area whom he enjoyed talking and visiting with at length. An outdoor memorial is planned for sometime later. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home.
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