Willis Ezra Hobbs

Mr. Hobbs was born in Lavaca County, Texas in the Ezzell community on January 9, 1924 to Louis Wedzel Hobbs and Julia Ann (Debord) Hobbs. He had two older brothers, William Roland Hobbs and Carl Travis Hobbs and one younger sister, Syble Allene Hobbs Wilkerson.

His family farmed and ranched on the family property in Lavaca County. He had lots of stories to tell about the hard times during the Great Depression where he learned to hunt and fish to help provide food for his family. After graduating from Hallettsville High School in 1942; he helped his mom and dad on the farm as both older brothers were away serving in World War II efforts.

He was eventually drafted into the US Army and sent to boot camp Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas and was honorably discharged at the end of the war at Fort Benning, Georgia. He returned to Texas and enrolled at the University of Houston where he graduated in 1949 with a degree in Geology.

His first job in the oil and gas business was as a field geologist for Baroid Oil. He soon met Thelma May Johnston on a blind date with mutual friends and they eventually married on October 15, 1950 in Houston. They spent the first year of their married life together traveling across the southwestern USA following oil well sites until they reached Southern California. Due to his father’s failing health and wanting to be closer to family, they returned to Houston. He began working for Pure Oil Company and spent the rest of his professional career in oil and gas exploration as a geophysicist in Houston except for a transfer to Corpus Christi Texas in 1969 to 1974. He retired from Union Oil of California in 1985.

They spent their retirement years traveling and spending time with their family. He enjoyed the outdoors whether traveling or by hunting and fishing. He kept fit in the city with various gym memberships starting by joining President’s First Lady in 1978. He jogged or walked around the equator twice according to his records.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings as well as his wife Thelma in 2005 after 55 years of marriage.

He is survived by his two daughters, Karen Elizabeth Hobbs Calvert and her husband, Lawrence Jackson Calvert Jr of Texarkana, Texas and Joe Ellen Hobbs Tipton and her husband, A. Dayle Tipton of Amarillo, Texas.

He has five grandchildren to remember his stories and history lessons from the past, Megan Elizabeth Parsons and her husband, Antony C. Parsons of Liberty Hill, Texas; Blake Jackson Calvert and his wife, Heather Blakely Hutto Calvert of Austin, Texas; Samuel James Tipton and fiancée, Jordan Bethany Avance; Austin Bryan Tipton; and Joseph Miles Tipton and wife, Makayla Amberly Lane Tipton all of Amarillo, Texas.

He is also survived by four great grandchildren, Abigail Leigh Parsons, Joshua Travis Parsons, Elia Nell Calvert and Alden Jackson Calvert as well as five nephews and nieces.

He was a member of Alston Road Church of Christ. Visitation will be on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at Forest Park Westheimer in Houston from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Final resting place will be in Bosley Cemetery in Palo Pinto County, Texas after a graveside service on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Daddy was blessed with a long and active life surrounded by good friends and family. His daughters will always count their blessings to have had such a good father who provided for them and gave them a safe and loving home.

His family requests donations in memory of Willis Hobbs be made to a charity of choice in lieu of flowers.

A visitation for Willis will be held Saturday, November 26, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkwestheimer.com for the Hobbs family.