Obituary for Fred "Buddy" Hobbs
Fred R. (Buddy) Hobbs, 78 of Franklin, N.C. passed away on April 12, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Jacksonville FL.; raised on a cotton farm in Harlingen, Texas; before returning to Jacksonville when he was 9 and in 3rd grade where he met his future wife Linda Wiesenfeld.
After his Air Force days, he settled in Jacksonville, but his adventurous side would no longer be silent. He pulled his trailer up to Alaska and never looked back. He built a log cabin and went to work as an accountant for the State Ferry System; and then managed the State Educational center supplying schoolbooks and other educational needs of children who lived out in the bush. He climbed mountains and glaciers. He stayed till he retired, then meandered back south. After retirement he went to Peru and went down the Amazon with a small college class studying entomology (specifically spiders.) He then got them to drop him off to spend two weeks in the jungle alone. This is an example of his lifestyle. While home in Jacksonville visiting family, he re-met Linda (after 30 years.) they were married and enjoyed 3 years meandering together up to Alaska, until settling here; near her parents.
His favorite place to be was with his wife Linda or in a sleeping bag in the woods of Alaska.
Buddy had a caregiver’s heart. He enrolled at Southwestern to become a CNA. For 15 Years he cared for and loved all his patients. He found last year he had cancer, but he would not leave his patients. He was a kind and honorable man. A true gentleman.
Buddy was also very creative in poetry, woodworking and landscaping.
Buddy always had a special love for animals. He was a longtime and very active member of the International Wolf Center. For the past 20 years, he would often take in “any dog or kitties who needed help”. He and Linda would take them to Dr. Stagnitta for their shots, meds, to get them chipped, spayed or neutered; then would look for a good home for them. They would often keep those that they couldn’t find a home for.
Buddy was preceded in death by his brother, Robert S. Hobbs and Daughter Cynthia Ann Trask.
He is Survived by his wife Linda of Franklin; his son, Michael Hunter of Jacksonville FL.; his step-son, Michael Verner of Jacksonville, FL.; grandsons, Ryan, Nicolas and Jacob; granddaughter, Breana; and his great grandchildren, Amelia and David. Also surviving are two cousins, Kim Hoffecker and Mark Alden; who Buddy was really close to.
A memorial service will be at a later date.
Memorials can be made to Appalachian Animal Rescue, PO Box 81, Franklin, NC 28744.
Online condolences can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com.
Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
After his Air Force days, he settled in Jacksonville, but his adventurous side would no longer be silent. He pulled his trailer up to Alaska and never looked back. He built a log cabin and went to work as an accountant for the State Ferry System; and then managed the State Educational center supplying schoolbooks and other educational needs of children who lived out in the bush. He climbed mountains and glaciers. He stayed till he retired, then meandered back south. After retirement he went to Peru and went down the Amazon with a small college class studying entomology (specifically spiders.) He then got them to drop him off to spend two weeks in the jungle alone. This is an example of his lifestyle. While home in Jacksonville visiting family, he re-met Linda (after 30 years.) they were married and enjoyed 3 years meandering together up to Alaska, until settling here; near her parents.
His favorite place to be was with his wife Linda or in a sleeping bag in the woods of Alaska.
Buddy had a caregiver’s heart. He enrolled at Southwestern to become a CNA. For 15 Years he cared for and loved all his patients. He found last year he had cancer, but he would not leave his patients. He was a kind and honorable man. A true gentleman.
Buddy was also very creative in poetry, woodworking and landscaping.
Buddy always had a special love for animals. He was a longtime and very active member of the International Wolf Center. For the past 20 years, he would often take in “any dog or kitties who needed help”. He and Linda would take them to Dr. Stagnitta for their shots, meds, to get them chipped, spayed or neutered; then would look for a good home for them. They would often keep those that they couldn’t find a home for.
Buddy was preceded in death by his brother, Robert S. Hobbs and Daughter Cynthia Ann Trask.
He is Survived by his wife Linda of Franklin; his son, Michael Hunter of Jacksonville FL.; his step-son, Michael Verner of Jacksonville, FL.; grandsons, Ryan, Nicolas and Jacob; granddaughter, Breana; and his great grandchildren, Amelia and David. Also surviving are two cousins, Kim Hoffecker and Mark Alden; who Buddy was really close to.
A memorial service will be at a later date.
Memorials can be made to Appalachian Animal Rescue, PO Box 81, Franklin, NC 28744.
Online condolences can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com.
Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.