Elsie Loneda Hobbs

May 5, 1927 - December 24, 2020

Elsie Loneda Hobbs left this earth to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, December 24, 2020 at her home in Rising Star, Texas. Elsie Loneda Kidd Hobbs was born May 5,1927 in Hogansville, Georgia and is preceded in death by her husband, Leon Curtis Hobbs, and her parents Thomas Leonard and Laura Lucille Burson Kidd. She was born the second of four siblings and is preceded in death by sister, Bonnelle Dorrough. Elsie is survived by sons, Leonard C. Hobbs, and Lonald C. Hobbs, wife Debbie; and daughters, Laura C. Quinn, and Linda C. Beddo, husband Mike; by sisters, Melba Kidd Littlefield, husband Charles, and Nadine Kidd Spradlin; by brother-in-law, Gilbert Hobbs, wife Joan, and sister-in-law, Margaret Hobbs; by grandchildren Shannon, Kevin, Chris and Stephanie, Cheryn and Stan, Jeff and Laura, Carla and Danny, Allison and Devin, Tommie and Ari; and by 13 great-grandchildren and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, family and friends in Texas and Georgia. Elsie grew up and attended school in Hogansville, Georgia in the years prior to World War II when everyone in her large extended family worked to put food on the table. Her father worked in the cotton mills and there were years when she picked cotton with him in various local farming communities. Eventually, she worked at Stark Mills and then behind a soda fountain counter in the local pharmacy where she learned how to master a cash register and manage retail stock. And as God has a way of guiding our lives, that soda fountain is where Elsie met her future husband, Leon Curtis Hobbs, from Austin, Texas. Leon Curtis served in the Army during World War II and was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. Curtis survived the bombing at Hickam Field, traveled back to the States where he was discharged as a Staff Sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia. He found work driving a Round Rock Cola delivery truck and it was shortly after that, while delivering cases of Round Rock Colas, that he met, fell in love and then married his beautiful ‘Georgia Peach’ on August 4,1944. Elsie and Curtis hopped on a Continental Bus and headed to Texas to settle down and start a family. She always called him “Curtis” and he always called her “Dee”. Elsie stated many times that while she was not born in Texas, she certainly loved Texas and “got here as fast as I could.” As their family grew, Curtis worked all over the state and finally settled in the Fort Worth area working for Convair/General Dynamics, eventually opening his own insurance agency, and in later years working and retiring as an appraiser for FHA. They enjoyed their many years in the Fort Worth/River Oaks area and through the years formed many lifelong friendships. Like so many couples in that era, their entire life revolved around their family, church and pets. Miraculously, Elsie could make their $10 weekly grocery budget stretch to feed a family of six. Family vacations were always camping trips to exotic places like Big Bend National Park or across the South to epic Civil War Battlefield locations. They were involved with weekend outings to the family getaway at Lake Travis, Austin with boat racing and water skiing. Very memorable were the Hobbs Family reunions where live music, dancing and home cooking was enjoyed by all. There were also many years of family outings together at Texas deer leases or to school football and sporting events. According to Hobbs Family lore, Elsie’s brunette hair turned totally white in just a few weeks after their oldest son, Len, left home to serve overseas in the Navy during the Viet Nam conflict in the 1960’s. After all the kids flew the nest, a highlight of their life together was moving onto their own little piece of God’s green earth outside of the May/Rising Star area. Here, they raised cows, pigs, their grandchildren and a garden that Elsie was not fond of weeding. Before Curtis became too ill to travel, they did a lot of sightseeing and collected “vintage junk” of all descriptions. Elsie lost her husband of 45 years to leukemia on December 9, 1989 and stayed on at their ranch for a few years before moving into Rising Star. There she filled her days with making friends, country dancing several times each week, reading, word puzzles, cooking, Rising Star Methodist church activities and being with family whenever she could. Elsie was a lifelong fan of Elvis Presley, so much so, that everyone knew Elvis’ music, especially his hymns, gave her a lot of pleasure and comfort. Elsie was proud of her skills in the kitchen and was known far and wide as the “Queen of Cornbread Dressing” at Thanksgiving dinners. Everybody felt the warm hospitality of her kitchen and looked forward to the “cooked from scratch” meals served for family and friends; whether the setting was a large special holiday feast, a Monday night pot of red beans or a Friday lunch of fried bologna. Elsie loved people and was genuinely interested in others. A true lady who was able to make friends instantly because of her big heart and giving nature, her door was always open. She lived as one of “The Greatest Generation” any society has ever produced; these men and women who lived their lives and raised their family, because it was the "right thing to do." Elsie was so happy with her life as a Mother and a Grandmother and was able to smile no matter what the day would bring and loved being able to maintain her independence with the loving care and assistance of her children; especially daughter, Laura Cathy, who was with her daily. Home now, Elsie is forever at rest and at peace, free from all earthly pain and suffering, in the loving arms of her Creator and Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We know that Elsie and Curtis are together now through all eternity. "We will look for you in our dreams," - Your beloved family "... for He said, may the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other." ~ Genesis 31:49 "Love never fails." ~ I Corinthians 13:8 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ~ Revelation 21:4 • Burial will follow at Amity Cemetery, May, Texas - date to be announced • In lieu of flowers, you are encouraged to make a memorial donation to any of these groups: The Amity Cemetery Association Wounded Warrior Project Disabled American Veterans Paralyzed Veterans of America Cal Farley’s Boys Home Humane Society of North Texas