Katharine "Katie" Shumate (Richardson) Hobbing

Katie was born on February 14th, 1979 at Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs, Maryland to Douglas and Rebecca Richardson. She graduated from Bellbrook High School in 1997 before pursuing higher education at Vanderbilt University, where she studied chemical engineering and graduated in 2001. She later continued her studies at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, earning both her Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Pharmacology & Toxicology, graduating in 2008. During her academic career, Katie published in several medical journals and continued her work through postdoctoral research in immunology. Katie went on to become an Associate Professor in the College of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, where she taught the Master’s program focused on Applied Pharmacology and Toxicology. She was deeply passionate about mentoring students and advancing research in her field.

On June 12th, 2010, Katie married the love of her life, Christopher Hobbing. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and service to others. Katie had a strong Christian faith that guided her life. Her compassion for children led her into foster care, and she ultimately adopted her beloved child, Joseph, whom she cherished deeply.

Katie loved bringing people together and especially enjoyed family gatherings. She found great joy in cooking and baking with her family, creating many treasured memories with those she loved, passing her secret carrot cake recipe to nieces and nephews.

Katie is survived by her loving husband, Christopher Hobbing; her child, Joseph Hobbing; her parents, Douglas and Rebecca Richardson; and her brothers, Douglas (Daisy) Richardson, Jonathan (Erin) Richardson, and Christopher (Debbi) Richardson. She is also lovingly remembered by her nine nieces and nephews: Piper, Crosley, and Beau Richardson, children of Douglas and Daisy; Olivia and Owen Richardson, children of Jonathan and Erin; and Hannah, Isaac, Elijah, and Abigail Richardson, children of Christopher and Debbi.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held at Fairhaven Church, 637 E. Whipp Road, Centerville, Ohio 45459, on March 28th, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., with a Celebration of Katie's Life at 11:00 a.m. Final resting place will be Woodland Cemetery, 118 Woodland Avenue, Dayton 45409.

“In honor of Katie’s generous spirit and her love for the field of pharmacology, the family asks that donations be made to the Pharmacology Professional Development Endowment Fund (https://foundation.uc.edu/PharmacologyPDEndowment), with gifts designated “In Memory of Katie Hobbing” in the tribute information section. Your support will help create a scholarship for a master’s student in pharmacology in Dr. Katie Hobbing’s name—an opportunity that carries forward Katie’s passion, kindness, and belief in helping others discover their potential. Through this scholarship, her light will continue to guide and encourage those who follow in her footsteps.” Condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com