Dec. 8, 1930Oct. 22, 2024
Jimmie Darline Hobbs, age 93, of Norman, went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 22, 2024. She is survived by her six children: Jeanette Doty and husband Ralph of Norman; Mark Hobbs and wife Joy of Tulsa; Judy Mayfield of Oklahoma City; Peggy Warren and husband Dan of Bettendorf, Iowa; Pat Wilson and husband George of Norman; and Carrie Engle and husband Todd of Lake Ozark, Missouri.
Darline is also survived by ten grandchildren: Tara Burke, Tiffany Hobbs and Travis Hobbs all of Tulsa; Amber Briggs and husband Steven Briggs of Illinois; Stephen Warren and wife Brenda of Iowa; Rebecca Engle of Kansas City and Joshua Engle of Colombia, Missouri; Andre Wilson and his girlfriend Jennifer White of Dallas, Texas; Ethan Wilson who is currently serving in the military in Fort Sill Oklahoma; and Jennifer Dixon of Florida. Darline also has twelve great grandchildren: Dylan, Boston, Kyler and Devin Hobbs of Tulsa; Jackson and Field Hobbs of Tulsa; Quinn and Finn Hobbs of Tulsa; Damien and Naomi Warren of Iowa; Kailanee and Kalena Dixon of Florida.
Darline was born December 8, 1930, in Weatherford, Oklahoma, to her father, Dr. Roy Anderson and mother, Margaret Anderson. Her given name was Jimmie Doylene, after her grandfather, James Doyle, who promised a check for $100 if they named her after him. She kept the name until her early teens when she legally changed it to Darline. While her father was in medical school, they moved to different places including Weatherford, Oklahoma City, Verden, OK, Vancouver B.C., Guthrie, OK, and Clinton, OK. They settled in Cordell, Oklahoma where her father opened his practice.
Darline met the love of her life, Jerry Hobbs, in Cordell at a church social. She was 14 and he was 16. She graduated from Cordell High School in 1948 and attended two years of college at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she majored in music. Jerry and Darline married August 21, 1950, in Cordell, Oklahoma. A year later, their first child, Jeanette, was born. While pastoring a church in Irving, Oklahoma, and Vernon, Texas, they felt called to be Southern Baptist Missionaries to Thailand. In 1957, when their children Jeanette was 6, Mark was 4 and Judy was 2, they embarked on a boat to Thailand to begin their lifetime adventure. Their other children, Peggy, Pat and Carrie, were born in Thailand.
Darline and Jerry served in Thailand for thirty-four years, first in Nakorn Nayok, then in Prachinburi. In 1968, Jerry was hit by a truck while traveling out to a local village for a visit. He broke his hip and pelvis and had to be in the hospital in Bangkok for six months in traction. After that, he and Darline served as hostel parents to missionary kids in Bangkok for three years. A few years later they moved to Bangkla where Darline served at the Baptist Hospital as a translator for visiting doctors and helped to organize medical supplies at the pharmacy. In the last few years in Thailand, they lived in Bangkok while Jerry was Mission Administrator. During that time, Darline taught English at the Baptist Student Center. Jerry and Darline retired to Norman, Oklahoma, in 1991 to help care for Darline’s mother. From 1991 to present, she lived in Norman and was active at First Baptist Church. She particularly loved teaching Bible studies to different women’s groups and working with the English Language Program Friendship International.
Darline was so loved by her kids and grandkids. Her sense of humor and sharp wit often kept them in stitches. Before her recent surgery, she was asked what she wanted to say to her kids about her life and she said, “It’s been a blast!” We are all especially proud of her gift as a wonderful artist and painter and many of her pieces grace our homes and grandkids’ homes. She also enjoyed writing and participated in local writing critique groups. While she did not particularly enjoy cooking, she created many wonderful meals and was known for “stuff over rice”, a dish that changed depending on what was in the refrigerator at the time. She was a very good seamstress as well and made wedding dresses for two of her daughters.
Darline was always interested in continuing her education. She took a Spanish class and sat in on several classes taught by her son-in-law, Dr. Ralph Doty, at OU. She loved watching Perry Mason and listening to audio books for the blind after she lost her eyesight from macular degeneration. Her favorite treat was a hamburger and vanilla shake from Braums. Even in her later years, she kept a positive attitude and always expressed her gratitude to God for all her many blessings. She was a strong woman of faith and prayed for her children and grandchildren fervently.
A deep felt thank you goes out to our angels from Synergy Health Care: Anne Mbariah, Faith Kagunda, Mirabel Ofe, Winnie Kuku-Robinson and Eveline Madem. They loved and cared for her until the very last breath.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Darline’s name to First Baptist Church Norman Missions (https://www. fbcnorman.org/give), or one of her favorite charities: St. Jude’s, (https:// www.stjude.org), or Special Olympics (https://www.specialolympics. org).
A private family service will be held.
Arrangements by Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman. Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome. com.