R L Hobson Jr.

He was born on March 6, 1949 in Perry County, Alabama to Irma Kinard and RL Hobson, Sr. RL was a hard worker and took pride in a job well done. When he was 15 he told his dad that he wanted a car when he turned 16. His father's response was that he had better quit that silly football stuff and get a job and that's exactly what he did. RL went to work and bought his first car, a 1954 Chevrolet on his own. This ignited his strong work ethic. He began his career in a drug store downtown and later spent time in the Alabama National Guard. From there he built rail cars and houses, and worked at the paper mill and coal mines as a roof bolter for 20 years. RL coached countless baseball teams, was little league president, drove a school bus, worked at the water department and completed his long career on the assembly line at Mercedes Benz. On what ended up being his last day of work, RL walked in from the parking lot at Mercedes Benz, not exactly excited to start his shift and got a wild hair. Instead of heading to his spot on the assembly line he took a turn and headed straight to the HR department where he asked how many points he needed to retire, to which she replied, "You have as many points as you need, Mr. RL." In that moment, RL immediately put in for his retirement, filled out the paperwork and headed home to his dogs, trading his working career for his favorite job ever...... being a PawPaw. He obsessed over his eldest grandson, Russell Hobson, and later his newest grandson, Briggs Hobson.

To those lucky enough to have known Goat, know that he loved his family and his dogs more than life itself. He was a friend to all and even recently was quoted as saying he had become "the town taxi for those in need." He loved to help people in any way that he could and would go above and beyond for those around him despite fighting his own battles. Putting people before himself was his nature. Through his time coaching baseball he helped shape the minds of many kids, giving them a strong and sturdy example of what it is to be a good man. RL was a man's man who loved watching old westerns, Gunsmoke and anything with Jason Statham but also had a soft spot for Hallmark and Lifetime movies. He was Strong. Brave. Smart. He loved his country, but not necessarily his government. He loved his family and fought for the good of his community. You didn't have to know RL to know that he loved Auburn and Auburn athletics. It was rare to ever see him at home or out and about without something orange and blue. The ramps on the southwest corner of Jordan Hare Stadium is where he and his son, Shan Hobson, watched years of both great and awful Auburn teams. Regardless of the record, or who the coach or opponent was, those ramps were like a second home to RL and Shan. If anybody ever lived out the Auburn Creed, it was RL Hobson. He was an animal lover and loved every dog that he said he didn't want, until bringing it home and becoming inseparable. One would be hard pressed to find anyone with a cross word to say about RL, and if you could find one, he wouldn't have been bothered by it anyway. We will all miss him terribly, but we can take comfort in the fact that he lived his life on his terms and left this Earth the same way. If anybody had ever earned their place in Heaven, it was RL.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Irma Kinard and RL Hobson Sr.; brothers, James Hobson and Kenneth Hobson; and his sister, Bonnie Breland.

He is survived by his son Shan Hobson (Megan); and grandsons, Russell Hobson and Briggs Hobson.

A Celebration of Life for R L will be held Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Rockco Funeral Home, 805 Birmingham Rd, Centreville, Alabama 35042.