Robert Andrews Hobbs

1918-2012

Robert Andrews “Bob” Hobbs, retired Rear Admiral, United States Naval Reserve, died on June 2, 2012 at age 94. His wife, Louise Clarke Hobbs, four children and their spouses, and four grandchildren survive Bob. Their children are Susan Hobbs and Gerald Toner of Alexandria, Virginia; Jane and Mark Burns of Town and Country, Missouri; Robert and Norma Hobbs of Bellevue, Washington; and Jim and Barbara Hobbs of Sun Valley, Idaho. Their grandchildren are First Lieutenant Clarke Burns, United States Army, Austin Toner, Alexandra Burns and Jonathan Hobbs. Bob’s first cousin, Catherine Gray of Greenbrae, California, and a nephew Robert Rose and a niece Nancy Hobbs also survive him. His sister, Barbara, and a brother, MacDonald Hobbs, predeceased him. Bob was born on March 21, 1918 to Albert Langford Hobbs and Amy Elizabeth Andrews Hobbs, in Omaha, Nebraska. His father was in the life insurance business and his mother purchased and renovated homes and apartment buildings. Bob attended the University of Iowa, the University of Nebraska and the University of Washington, where he received his degree in political science. While at the University of Iowa, he roomed with football star and 1939 Heisman Trophy winner, Nile Clarke Kinnick, whom he met during high school in Omaha, and who remained his closest friend until Nile’s death in 1943 during a Navy flight training mission off a carrier. Bob mourned the loss of Nile all his life. Monday morning after the attack on Pearl Harbor Bob signed up to serve in the United States Navy and was accepted into the Navy’s aviation program. With Nile, who had also signed up to serve, Bob took flight instruction at Fairfax Airport, Kansas City followed by further flight instruction in Miami and at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. Bob received his Naval aviator’s wings in June 1942 and was sent to join the U.S. Pacific fleet. In 1943 he reported to Fighter Squadron VF-3 under Commander Edward ”Butch” O’Hare, under whose direction Bob and several other Navy fliers helped to train Marines on the F-4U Corsair, for the purpose of forming a new squadron which later fought successfully at the Battle of Guadalcanal. Bob then joined Fighter Squadrons Three, Ten and Eight. He flew F4F Wildcats for training exercises under the command of William “Killer” Kane. He also flew F6F Hellcats with Squadron Eight while assigned to the U.S.S. Intrepid and the U.S.S. Bunker Hill. In 1944 he engaged in aerial combat during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. For his service during 1943-1944 he received eight Battle Campaign Ribbons, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and nine Air Medals. In August 1943 Bob married, Elsie Louise Clarke in Norfolk, Virginia. “Louise,” Nile Kinnick’s cousin, was then serving as an officer in the United States Coast Guard. After the war, Bob continued to serve in the United States Naval Reserve at Sand Point Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington. He was also in the insurance business, working in estate planning, financial counseling and corporate business planning. From 1956-57 he served as President of the Seattle Chapter of Chartered Life Underwriters and from 1968-70 was President of the Seattle Association of Life Underwriters. Bob and Louise raised their children on Mercer Island, Washington, where they both were active in civic affairs. In 1966-67 they were Co-Presidents of the Parent-Faculty Association at Mercer Island High School. Bob served as a Republican Precinct Committeeman and as Campaign Chairman for George W. Clarke who served two decades in the Washington State Legislature. Bob’s great love, however, continued to be the United States Naval Reserve where he acted in many capacities, including Commander of the Naval Air Reserve Staff during 1965-67 and then as Northwestern Area Representative to the Commander, Naval Air Reserve in Glenview, Illinois. Bob was promoted to Rear Admiral (two star) in 1972 and served as Commander of the Naval Reserve Readiness Command in Seattle in 1971-1972. Experiences both in war and in peace prompted his deep concern for world affairs. Bob was fascinated by history and avidly read biographies. His children remember his keen interest in politics, his love for his country and his concern for a strong national defense. His greatest commitment, however, was to family, a value he learned from his mid-western parents, for whom he held a deep respect. His own children recall Bob’s devotion to family as an ongoing example for all of them.

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