HOPE – Harville “Elston” Hobbs, 72, of Hope, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005, at Rockport after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Sept. 9, 1933, in Camden and was the son of Roy Knight and Helen Freda (Young) Hobbs. He attended Camden High School and was a 1962 graduate of the University of Maine at Orono. He taught English at UMO and math at both Bangor and Ellsworth high schools. Hobbs served with the U.S. Air Force for four years and served in the Air National Guard in Bangor for 18 years retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He survived three life-threatening accidents, two of which involved the legendary F-100B “Voodoo” Fighter Interceptor. He and his pilot were rescued by Bass Harbor lobstermen. Lt. Col. Hobbs parachuted from an F-89 Scorpion Jet in Kansas. In 1972, his Voodoo fighter crash-landed and he walked away. Hobbs built his own comuters at home in the late 1970’s and returned to UMO receiving a certificate in computer programming. In 1999, he retired as a computer programmer from Raytheon Corporation. Surviving is his beloved wife of 45 years, Judith A. Hobbs of Hope, originally from Falmouth; a daughter, Michelle H. McBride of Manchester, N.H.; a son, Steven T. Hobbs and his wife, Jennifer, of Goffstown, N.H.; a brother, Laurence W. Hobbs of Hope; five grandchildren, James J. McBride, Sean T. McBride, both of Hudson, Fla.; Christopher T. Hobbs of Bangor, Emily J. Taber and newborn, Colby T. Hobbs of Goffstown, N.H.; many cousins including Ronn Young of Steep Falls. He also leaves his spiritual advisor, Thomas McEwen of Alfred. He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Colby K. Hobbs. A memorial service will be help 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005, at the John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John St., Camden with the Rev. Paul Marshall officiating. A reception will be held following the service at the church. Interment will be in LaSalle Cemetery, Moody Mountain Road, Searsmont. Memorial donations may be made to the Raish Peavey Haskell Memorial Children’s Cancer Research Lab, care of Eastern Maine Children’s Charities, Eastern Maine Medical Center, P.O. Box 404, Bangor, ME 04402. Arrangements are with the Laite Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden.
HARVILLE ‘ELSTON’ HOBBS
