Obituary for Claude M. “Buddy” Hobbs Jr. Hobbs, Claude M. “Buddy” Hobbs, Jr. Buddy Hobbs was called home to meet our Lord Jesus on July 27th, 2018. He was 76 years old. Buddy never met a project he couldn’t fix or a person he couldn’t make smile.
He had a gift for and loved turning strangers into friends. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching football (especially Alabama ball) and the Little League World Series. He loved to cut grass at the church building with his buddies: Luther, Frank and Gene.
Buddy was born in Childersburg on January 12, 1942 to the late Claude Marion and Cordelia Hobbs. After graduation from Childersburg High School he went to work at the Kimberly-Clark paper mill here in town. One Sunday morning he noticed a new face in church.
It was the preacher’s daughter, Margie Thompson. He pursued Margie and finally won her love and the two married on January 5, 1963. Buddy and Margie moved to Fort Pierce, Florida shortly thereafter.
They had three children; Renae, Clay and David. He went to work for a local funeral home and saw firsthand the importance of the profession and how he could be of service to others. He entered into mortuary school and after graduation he served his apprenticeship time and met Rick Haisley.
Buddy and Rick became business partners and opened the Haisley-Hobbs Funeral home in 1973. It was a very long and slow process, but Buddy and Rick became the premier funeral home business in the Fort Pierce area. In 1998 Buddy retired and he and Margie moved back to Childersburg.
They purchased a home along the banks of the Coosa River. With the help of his father Claude, Buddy put his “I can fix anything” skills to work renovating the home. They loved hosting their kids and grandkids when they would travel down from Wisconsin and Tennessee for visits.
After Margie passed in March of 2011, the Childersburg Church of Christ once again brought love into Buddy’s life. He joined Joyce Giddens on her family pew one Sunday morning. Buddy and Joyce married on October 1, 2011 and enjoyed seven wonderful years together.
They were very active in Childersburg Church of Christ where Buddy served as an elder. Buddy is survived by his loving wife Joyce (Giddens-Hobbs), Buddy and Margie’s children: Renae and her husband Doug Dobbe and their children Jordan, Rachel (husband Dan Gulla) and Dalton. Clay and his wife Angela and Clay’s children Will (Rebekah), Ben, Sam and Jack.
David and his wife Cindy and their children Cory (wife Hannah) and Spencer. Joyce’s children: Johnny and Molly Giddens, Johnny’s children Madison and Jennifer. Janie and Ray Giddens and son Michael.
Sisters Mary Elizabeth Ellison and Betty Nell Thomas. He is further survived by 3 great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews and many, many dear friends. Buddy was preceded in death by his parents Claude and Cordelia Hobbs and wife Margie Thompson Hobbs.
The visitation for Buddy will be Wednesday, August 1, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Radney-Smith Funeral Home in Sylacauga, AL. The funeral service will be on Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Childersburg Church of Christ, with Bro. Gary Bradley and Bro.
Chad Dollahite officiating. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers and a few of his close friends will serve as honorary pallbearers. Burial will immediately follow in Green Hill Memorial Cemetery in Childersburg, AL.
Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneysmith.com. Radney-Smith Funeral Home in Sylacauga, AL will direct the services.
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