Don Ray Hobbs' Obituary
Don Ray Hobbs passed from this life into the hands of the Lord on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Don was born August 30, 1942, in Sulphur, Oklahoma to Wesley and Lois (Hindman) Hobbs.
Don spent most of his young life on a horse, working with his father on many cattle ranches in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Colorado. Don attended Springer High School in Springer, Oklahoma, where he played basketball and saxophone. He attended one year of college at Texas Tech where he studied drafting. Don moved to Kansas and went to work for his uncle's grocery store. His spare time was spent in a nearby bowling alley, where he fell in love with the sport of bowling. He was a natural. He moved to Tulsa to manage a Humpty Dumpty Grocery. Bowling became his passion, and he spent all his time on leagues and practicing. He shot many 300 games including in the ABC Tournaments all over the United States. He bowled on the best teams possible and striving for perfection was always important to Don.
Don's best friend from work, introduced him to a young lady who invited him to a fried chicken dinner. She was a divorced mother with three children. He soon learned to love the nights she had no sitter, but they could stay in, and Donna could fry chicken. Don quickly said he would bring the chicken to fry. Sold! They began to date, and love was born. Don and Donna planned to marry and take a honeymoon trip to Kansas City, Missouri to meet Donna's Daddy and go watch Donna's beloved Chiefs play ball.
All the plans were made however, Don was hit by a drunk driver and spent four weeks in the hospital partially paralyzed and told he would never bowl again. Donna told Don he could stay at her home if they married first. Don told Donna to "go get the ring, and a dress for the girls." Donna's pastor Bob Green performed the wedding on Friday, November 26, 1971, in Donna's home. Elon, Don's friend, held him up for the wedding.
This new family's life changed after Don & Donna's wedding and Don became able to attend church. The need arose for a person to work at cleaning the church. Don took the job and never looked back. He cleaned God's church and God cleaned his heart. Don was saved and baptized by the Lord he loved in the church he loved. On Sunday, when Don was asked what he wanted for lunch the answer most often was "fried chicken". Wouldn't you know? Don was always looking out for his family and friends, and he will be deeply missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.
Don is preceded in death by his parents as well as his baby brother, Lewis Leroy Hobbs and younger adopted brother, Randy Lee Hobbs.
He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 52 years, Donna Hobbs; three stepchildren, Lynda Chase and husband Charles; Teresa Gilliland; and "Butch" Gilliland and wife Shadow; two grandchildren, Autumn and David; five great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren; aunt, Darlene Morton; uncle, Leon Hindman; and sister-in-law Mary Dotson.
A public visitation will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM, at Floral Haven Funeral Home: 6500 S 129th E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74012.
Anyone wishing to send flowers may do so by ordering through our website or by calling Floral Designs by Floral Haven at (918) 459-1525. Any other florists may deliver flowers directly to Floral Haven Funeral Home by 11:00 AM on Sunday, November 20, 2023, in order for them to be set out and properly displayed for Don's visitation.
A funeral service to honor the life of Don will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, November 20, 2023, at Southwood Baptist Church, located at 4020 S 102nd E Ave, Tulsa, OK 74146.
Arrangements entrusted to Floral Haven Funeral Home.
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