Billie Kathryn Kobs

Billie Kathryn Haynie Kobs peacefully went home to her Lord, Jesus, on December 3 2015. She had recently been hospitalized for respiratory problems and died at her residence at Tarreytowne Estates, attended by family and home healthcare providers. Mrs. Kobs was born February 4, 1928 in Mabank, Texas, the only child of Roy Martin Haynie and Mildred Marriott Haynie. Mrs. Kobs married Ernest Charles (“E. C.”) Kobs, Jr., in 1947 and raised three sons, Ernest Charles Kobs, III, Martin Haynie Kobs, and Terrell Eugene Kobs. Mrs. Kobs was preceded in death in 2003 by her husband, E.C., in 1983 by her father, and in 1997 by her mother.

Mrs. Kobs graduated from high school in Athens, Texas in 1944 and attended Texas State College for Women. She met E. C. Kobs at a Texas A & M football game at SMU, where, sitting behind her, Aggie cadet E. C. began his lifelong flirtation with the pretty blond girl that resulted in their marriage in 1947 in Athens, Texas, a faithful marriage of almost 56 years, ending with E.C.’s death in 2003. Like most marriages, theirs had its good and tough times, but it was always based on their love for each other and a partnership in raising their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, founded on the grace of God and faith in Jesus.

Ms. Kobs enjoyed a full, engaged, outgoing and interesting life. During her early marriage, she worked for a private investigation firm in Athens. In the early 1960’s, she volunteered at Methodist Hospital assisting foreign born heart patients and their families to acclimate to the Houston area. In 1970, Ms. Kobs designed and created a mens coat that was reviewed in the Houston press and which she marketed briefly through Sakowitz as “Joseph’s Coat”, because of its many colors.

From her volunteer service at Houston Methodist Hospital, Ms. Kobs made lifelong friendships that led her to make other friends in England and Lebanon. She and E. C. occasionally would travel to England to visit friends and they lived in London during E. C.’s employment there from 1989 to 1991. Mrs. Kobs’ last visit to England was to visit friends in Canterbury, Kent in 2003.

Mrs. Kobs is survived by son Ernest Charles Kobs, III, and his wife, Lee Newton Kobs, and their children Ernest Charles Kobs, IV (Dusty) and his wife, Jamie Lee Hatch Kobs; David Andrew Kobs and his wife, Deplam Stardust Robinson Kobs; and Rebecca LeAnn Kobs Cain and her husband, Bradley Wayne Cain; son Martin Haynie Kobs; son Terrell Eugene Kobs and wife, Jeanna Cole Kobs, and their children Michelle Renee Kobs Reed and her husband, Rusty Reed; and Denise Kathryn Kobs Highshaw and her husband, Dr. Tony Highshaw; and great grandchildren Lillian Hope Adeline Kobs, Dacey Lee Caroline Kobs, Ernest Charles Kobs, V and Jo Lee Emma Kobs; David Andrew Kobs II, Sophia Jacqueline Kobs, and Samantha Kobs; Ty Jacob Wilson, Lane Wyatt Wilson and Cash Cole Wilson; Fischer Reed, Emma Reed, and Cole Reed; Van Highshaw and Sunny Highshaw; step grandchildren Taighten David Cain and Dillinger Tyler Cain; and first cousins Gina Dean, Janet Bonner, Jerri McNatt, and Ann Marriott Payton.

Friends are invited to visitation with the family on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm in the stateroom at Earthman Funeral Directors, 8303 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 11:00 am in the Chapel of the Angels at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale Avenue, Houston, TX 77023. Interment to follow in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.