Harry Hobson's Obituary
Harry Edward Hobson, age 82, passed away peacefully on July 25th, 2017, surrounded by his family at The Woods on French Creek in Avon, Ohio.
Harry was born August 15, 1934 in Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Dr. John P. Hobson, Sr. and Anna Lucille (nee Thomas) Hobson, and was the second oldest of their five sons. He graduated from Cambridge Springs High School and then went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Gannon College in Erie, Pennsylvania.
From 1954 to 1956, Harry answered the call to serve our nation in the United States Army, working as a Low Speed Radio Operator with the 9th Infantry Division. It was during this time that Harry married Bonnie Jean Wilcox of Sharon, Pennsylvania in September of 1955 in Bamberg, Germany.
Harry and Bonnie settled in Sheffield Lake, Ohio, where they raised their family of seven children and were active in parish life at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Harry also served on the Sheffield Lake City Council. Harry worked as an advertising executive for many years in Cleveland, becoming well-respected in the industry and was inducted into the Graphic Arts Council’s Hall of Distinction in 1993. He retired from Liggett-Stashower Inc. in 1998 and he and Bonnie moved to their dream home in The Woods of West Virginia. It was there he enjoyed time with his family and friends while pursuing his passions of golf and Civil War history. Harry worked tirelessly to help establish a memorial statue for Lieutenant-General James Longstreet that was unveiled in Gettysburg National Military Park on July 3rd, 1998.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents: John and Lucille Hobson, his brothers: Robert Hobson and John P. Hobson, Jr., his daughter: Susan M. Hobson-Yarmock and Bonnie, his loving wife of 57 years. Harry’s legacy of love and faith will continue on through his seven children: Rev. J. Mark Hobson of Cleveland, Richard (Elizabeth) Hobson of Amherst, Kathi (Charles) Ference of Amherst, Lisa (Michael) Bolmeyer, of Lorain, Mary (Thomas) Moran of Amherst and Rebecca Hobson of Lorain, as well as his seventeen adoring grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
The Hobson family will receive friends on Monday, July 31, 2017 from 4:00 to 8:00pm in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 11:00am at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 715 Harris Road, Sheffield Lake. (PLEASE MEET AT THE CHURCH.) The Rev. J. Mark Hobson will officiate. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.
The family suggests contributions be made in memory of Harry to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876, St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44110 or the National Kidney Foundation, Finance Dept., 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016. Online condolences may be left for the Hobson family at www.dovinreberjones.com
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