I think back and realize if not for Ray Jones and a little puppy, we may not have met.  I returned from my tour in Vietnam and ended up living in a BOQ...Lt. Col James King was y boss...He owned a pair of Hungarian hunting dogs, which he had trouble selling...I told him I would buy one if he could get me a better place to live...Jim King wrote a letter...they had given me a house!  I invited Lt. Col. Ray Jones (to be my roommate) who was an instructor at Test Pilot School.  One day Ray said one of his students...invited his fellow students to help finish a house...at Mammoth Lakes and invited me to go...

I went up almost every weekend for a year. ..It was fun when you and Jerry & Holly came up too.  

I remember when we put the beds in.  Jerry had rented a trailer...and we all (by this time Heather also) went in the station wagon...Jerry had a sore back and you and I, and the girls got the beds up.

Sorry to be so long but I am reminiscing of trying to get a place for PisZok (the dog) got me to you and Jerry and Mammoth.  And...

our love to you and Holly and Heahter & Heidi

Bill and Judy

I am so glad I got to meet Mr. Hoblit.  He was such an important figure in Chris's life.  He taught Chris the value of saving 10% first, and Chris has passed that advice onto our own kids.  We have many fond memories of him.  He will be truly missed.  

Chris & Betsy Wilson

I have tried to write the words that encapsulated Hoblit the man. He is a man that deserves a special tribute. He was special. I met Jerry in my first days with Aspenosium at Steamboat. He was a great friend to all and made each of us feel special. He certainly enjoyed his exchange tour with the Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Five at NAS China Lake. He related many great adventures and experiences he had on that exchange tour. Among the high lights he managed to become carrier qualed in the A7. He had the hook at Hoblit house among his other trophies.

HE gave tribute to all us as his friend. A great man with a quiet and commanding manner. HE has taken his final CAT Shot. Rest in Peace Shipmate.

 

With greatest respect

Roger Box

 

A footnote. Jerry added to his legend. When they were being detached he was vacating his quarters. One of the responsibilities was to have a freshly mowed lawn. While Jerry was wrapping up his flying and projects Rosalie, several months pregnant was out in the summer mowing the lawn. His legend endures

Holly,
I am so very sorry to hear of your dad’s passing.  As I may have shared with you, your dad was very important to me.  He gave me the opportunity to share in his work at the First Test Squadron.  He did not have to do that, but he went out of his way to find me a job working for him.  That ultimately resulted in me getting to be the Test Manager for what was called the 1976 Air-to-Air Specialization Test.  None of us knew at the time, but this “double blind test” had been sent down to the Wing by General Jones, the then Chief of Staff of the Air Force.  When the test was about 80% complete, various general officers started showing up at Clark AB and wanted to be briefed on the status of the Air-to-Air test.  Your dad let me do all of those briefings.  Ultimately I was asked to go back to the Pentagon to brief more generals on the tests.  In the end I went to PACAF (Hawaii) to brief General Jones who used the results of our test to designate the F-15C as a specialized air superiority fighter for the Air Force.  Those F-15C’s were stationed all over the world, and still are today.  They have been the most successful air superiority fighter ever.  All of that based on the test work done by your dad’s squadron.  To date, the F-15C has 104 kills and zero loses.  It has maintained an air superiority posture for the United States and many of our associated nations.  All of that ultimates reflects back on your dad’s squadron and his skill as a manager and his ability to get the very best out of his people.  The Air Force and our nation continues to benefit from your dad’s skills. 
I am so sorry he has left us, but I am so pleased I had the opportunity to work for your outstanding father.  May the Lord welcome him in to Heaven with open arms! 
Bless you and your family at this difficult time.
Love to all,
George Sewell

Hi Heidi (and Andy), 
Heidi, I’ve been following along with your father’s journey and know he was struggling over the last few years, but recently learned from Dan that he passed.  I’m sorry to hear that and know this is a hard time for all of you.  From high school I remember hearing that he was a badass fighter pilot but until I read his tribute on the Veteran Tributes page I never knew what a war hero he was!
I only met Mr. Hoblit a few times, but I distinctly remember a trip to Mammoth from Lancaster with him and his dog.  I’m not sure I was really originally invited, but Dan Dude (always the Man with the Plan) had invited me up to your family place in Mammoth for a couple of days.  Dan was already up there as was Holly, but Mr. Hoblit was driving up and Dan arranged for him to give me a lift.  Being in my early 20s with few obligations I didn’t ever hesitate to leave Lancaster for some adventure, so we started cruising up the 14, with Mr. Hoblit driving and telling stories and keeping us both entertained.  About the time we hit the 395 freeway we were trailing a pickup truck loaded with furniture, and a huge dresser fell off of the truck and nearly exploded on the freeway directly in our path.  I gritted my teeth and braced for a major impact, but your dad calmly zipped around the furniture shrapnel and got back into his lane without even pausing his story.  I was white as a ghost and could only mumble “uh, good reflexes”.

I’m sure you’re well aware of the beauty of Mammoth in the summertime, and it was awesome being out there.  The four of us went hiking in that perfectly warm mountain weather that you take for granted until you move somewhere with hot muggy summers and we all had a blast.  Your dad was quite entertaining and a gracious host, but since he didn’t know me that well and probably wasn’t sure of my true intentions around his daughter I could also tell he was watching me like a hawk!  I could really tell that he adored all of you. 

Dear Rosalie,  I have reached the age where I do not want to read the emails.  Jerry's passing was in on of those dreaded emails.  I have many events and places that I happily recall.  However my tour at Spang is high on the list.  My first tour flying was exciting but what I really recall is the BOQ activities and people.  You were the leader of the clan.  As you and Jerry's family grew, you were still the leader of the clan.  I know with Jerry's passing you will have the strength and character to bring everyone through this difficult phase of life!  With personal sympathy, Fondly, Dave

Dear Rosalie and Family,  I am truly saddened to learn of Jerry's death.  We were '58 classmates at West Point, and saw a lot of each other since we were in sister companies, A2 &B2.  Even though we both went Air Force, and started out flying the F-100, me in England and Jerry in Germany, when never crossed paths.  However, class reunions and the "Riverrat" 2000 reunion in Fort Worth brought us together.  Jerry was truly the Figher Pilot's "Fighter Pilot" and his extraordinary "weasel missions" helped make my missions over NVN a little less threatening.  I plan to drive down from Plano to attend the memorial service on Saturday, and look forward to being with y'all during this time of remembrance of Jerry.  Love Phil Raign

Dear Rosalie,  As a member of the Widows Outreach Team I am writing this note to offer our condolences from both the widows and the men of the class of 58.  Hopefully you have found the booklet "Grip Hands" from Betsy Hall to be a supportive resource.  May you find peace and strength from all your years with Jerry.  Memories keep our beloved forever close and deeply missed.  Fondly, Barbara Raymond

Rosalie,  We go back to 1959, Bill was away and I was pregnant, due any day.  Jerry made sure I was well cared for.  Our Mike was born two weeks later Jerry bringing a hot meal & company.  You married a wonderful man.  My Bill has been gone 8 yrs. You'll feel better as the years pass, but never the same.  Fondly, Topsy Malloy

Dearest Rosalie,  We know Jerry was the love of your life.  We send lots of  hugs to you and your family.  Buzz honored Jerry and we loved every minute of Hoblit Haus Mammoth.  Thank you for all the memories.  Lots of love,  Buzz and Max

Rosalie,  So the wheel of life has turned, and you are probably feeling pretty low because of Jerry's passing.  At the twilight of our lives our minds go back to better times!!  At one time Jerry asked me to sing a duet with you -- but that was after the voice of my youth had turned into what could be somewhat like a croaking frog --
Now I'm thinking that in tomorrow's "sometime"  we'll join God's heavenly choir and sing HIS praises - at that time I imagine singing that old hymn "Whispering Hope" with you and seeing Jerry's smiling face among a crowd of Cherubins!!  Nancy and I send our good thoughts and prayers for you!!  Love, George and Nancy

Dearest Rosalie,  It was heart breaking to read that Jerry died on January 31st.  I know the past few years have been difficult with his illness.  I loved the wonderful collections of pictures and so remember our back yards - yours with tiny bonsai tress.  It brought back great memories of good food at your house and fun times.  I pray blessings on you and your beautiful family and the ability to be flooded with the happy days of your life with Jerry.  I am so pleased God put you both in my life path.  Warmest affection, Becky Mercer

Dear Rosalie,  As Bruce said in his email, the family was so sorry to hear of Jerry's passing.  Our most sincere sympathy is to you and your family at this time.  What a wonderful person of achievement he was at both the national level and family which was first.  Oh, how he love you all and praised everyone for their achievements in their important lives too.  Jerry was kind, funny (sarcastic too) and delightful to be around in any situation formal or informal...best then.  It was nice to always see him especially at Aspenosium a few years ago with Heidi and just get caught up.  He was in fine form of fun and Heidi was a jewel to bring him.  Our families were all so intertwined with Heather, Holly and Heidi at so many gatherings, Lancaster and of course Hoblit Haus. a brightlight for everyone skiing.  We send our love a this time knowing as you do he had a full, great life.  Oh the stories we all share.  As we are both, myself in  particular, all in the very high risk area for COVID19, making the service in March would not work with immune problems.  However our thoughts and prayers are with you all.  Love Pat and Bruce and family.

To the Hoblit Family,  We are so sorry to hear of the loss of our beloved Jerry.  He was a remarkable man and leaves quite  a legacy.  We will remember him for his integrity, his faithful devotion to Rosalie, his sacrifice to serve his country to make military his career, his love of people, his loyalty to friends, his humor, and we can't forget his eggnog!  We will miss Jerry.  We are blessed to have had him in our lives and honored to call him friend.  Love and Prayers,  The Waidhofers  Martha, Larry, Deniece, Will and Bill-in Spirit.  

I met Jerry in 1967 at Edwards AFB while attending USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) which is now the USAF Test Pilot School.  Jerry told me he had just bought a lot at Mammoth Mountain for $6500 which we thought was crazy since that was a lot of money for a Captain in 1967. Little did we know! 
Jerry was having a shell structure put up and could use some help finishing it out.  Being a skier, I of course volunteered.  So, we spent some pretty intense weekends hanging drywall, painting and installing all the fixtures before the snow fell.  It was a good thing we had some reasonable flying grades since our study time for the academics suffered.  After graduation Jerry was posted to China Lake for an exchange tour with the Navy and I stayed at Edward with Test Ops.
This was the beginning of a long association with Hoblit Haus which was a modest cabin and no where close to the grandiose place it now is after the Hoblits did a major upgrade.  Jerry moved around a lot in his AF career, the Pentagon, Service Schools, the Philippines, and several TAC assignments and I stayed at Edwards so I watched over the place.  We kept in close contact and when he was the Vice of a F-111 Wing at Cannon AFB he helped me out by providing a F-111 for KC-10/F-111 qualification when I was doing the KC-10 program at Edwards. 
Jerry and Rosalie on several occasions visited Pat and I at our Cabin in Evergreen, CO at we have a tale of “Small World” to relate.  My mother came up to the cabin from Denver when Jerry and Rosalie were there.  She took one look at Jerry (and his facial feature) and said “You look a lot like someone I knew when I was in College and we called him Chief”.  This floored Jerry because very few people knew of his dad’s nickname, “Chief” which was a friendly jibe that he may have come off the nearby Indian Reservation.  As it turned out Jerry's parents and my parents were good friends at U of South Dakota and socialized and played sports together. 

Dear Rosalie and family,   We enjoyed knowing Jerry from the time we moved  to Corinthian Point. His stories could always hold our interest and usually make us laugh.  I truly enjoyed listening to  Jerry’s war stories while typing his book about his experiences as a fighter pilot.   I’ve missed his sense of humor and irreverence about life in general.   He will be sorely missed by all his friends in Corinthian Point.    We wish you God’s peace and comfort during this difficult time.   
Dottie & Ken Cornell 

Colonel George Buchner USAF-ret here. I replaced Jerry in VX-5 at the China Lake, CA Naval Weapons Center. VX-5 was an air to ground weapons test squadron. I took Jerry's recommendation that VX-5 was a good place to serve.  Right on! (Jerry had to eject from an A-4 when a rocket failed to leave the pod and started the A-4 on fire.) Jerry and I later flew together in a TA-4, skied together in CA and CO, golfed together in TX and partied together in CA, CO and TX. VX-5 presented Jerry with half of an A-4 tail hook after he was carrier qualified in the A-7E.  I have the other half of that tail hook.  Jerry was a real American and hero!! "Where did we get such men as these?"

Jerry was a classmate of mine (67-B) at the US Aeorspace Research Pilots School ( USAF Test Pilot School) at Edwrds Air Force Base,California in 1967-68. He was smart fun and humble...unless we had  few at the O'Club. Then Jerry would elaborate on how to kill SAMS ( surface to air missiles) in North Vietnam. Jerry and his "Bear" Tom Wilson (RIP) were the best of the best at this. Great man, great family, and super humble hero.


AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Col. Jerry Noel Hoblit

8 septembre 1936 – 31 janvier 2022

Metcalf Funeral Directors

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