April 17, 2013

SUFFOLK — Frances Piland Hobbs, 95, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 17, 2013.

Frances was born Aug. 23, 1917, in Suffolk, to the late Roger Townie Piland of Suffolk and Daisy Allsbrook Piland of Scotland Neck, N.C. After losing her mother at an early age, she and her father went to live with her uncle and aunt, Oscar and Russell Piland. Her Aunt Russell was a mother to her as she grew up, and their son, Glazier “Flinky” Piland was like an older brother.

Frances married the love of her life, Oliver Kermit Hobbs, on June 14, 1941, and the couple enjoyed 57 years of marriage before Oliver’s death in 1998.

Frances and Oliver are survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Oliver Kermit Hobbs Jr. and his wife, Earlene, and a daughter, Cynthia Russell Hobbs Baker. Grandchildren include Neil Hobbs and his wife, Heather, of Forest, Wade Hobbs and his wife, Lori, of Mooresville, N.C., Allan Baker and his wife, Betty, of Roanoke, and Brent Baker and his wife, Dora, of Sterling. There are seven great-grandchildren and an eighth on the way.

Frances Hobbs was guided by her Christian faith throughout her life. She was a loving wife and mother, always putting the well-being of her husband, her children and others before her own. Throughout her life she fully dedicated herself to whatever task she was given. Through her 80s and even into her 90s, while she could still drive, she regularly visited her friends in nursing homes around Suffolk. More recently, she continued her job of folding church mailout bulletins every week, even until just weeks before her death.

Her family wishes to thank the many caregivers who helped and comforted Mrs. Hobbs in recent times, particularly including Pattie Macias and Ruth Groh of Seniorcorp and her private nurse, Shirley Brinkley Mizelle.

A funeral service will be conducted Saturday, April 20, 2013, at 11 a.m. by Dr. Thurman Hayes in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk, with burial in Holly Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Friday, April 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The family appreciates memorials of flowers or contributions made to First Baptist Church, 237 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434, for renovations. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.