Albert Rice Hobbs

Albert Rice Hobbs, age 93, of Cedar Creek, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home on February 2, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Born February 15, 1929, in McDade, Texas, he was just two weeks shy of reaching his 94th birthday.

Al was a Master Mason in the Grand Lodge of Texas in Beeville, Texas, having been a member since about 1955. He attended Cedar Creek United Methodist Church in Cedar Creek, Texas, where his Sunday School class loved to hear him read from the Bible. He began working at the age of sixteen at Capital Chevrolet in Austin, Texas, as a mechanic’s helper. He worked as a mechanic his entire career, achieving the status of Master Mechanic, and eventually retiring from the Texas Department of Transportation in Austin. He worked hard to provide for his family and was renowned for his mechanical expertise and knowledge, which was well sought after by friends and family alike, often being able to help diagnose a problem over the phone. In his younger years, he enjoyed going fishing and camping with his family, riding his Honda 750 motorcycle, and later traveling with his wife Nona in their van, which he named “Patrick.”

After Nona’s death in 2015, Al went to live with his daughter Mary Ann and her husband Donnie Green in Cedar Creek, which he immensely enjoyed. He and Donnie ate many a breakfast at the Texas Grill, where he always had a side order of gravy. They spent countless hours on the front porch swings discussing and enjoying life. The swing on the porch was Al’s favorite place to be. He loved feeding the squirrels and birds and watching their antics. He was a great fire tender for the many brush pile fires at the farm, and was adopted by their small dog, Bowser, who was his constant companion and lap buddy. Al would get out and about with Mary Ann and really enjoyed the car shows on Main Street in Bastrop. He could talk for hours about old cars, and his memories of them. Al always stayed busy. Even when he could no longer go anywhere or leave the property, he would be tinkering on something or working on special little projects. As his health began to fade, he and Mary Ann stayed even closer together. Throughout all of his difficult days he remained a sweet-spirited man of sound mind and was quick to say “I love you” to all he cared about. He never lost his sense of humor, and was still making silly jokes that made us laugh until the end. He was greatly respected and loved by his nieces and nephews, who called him Uncle Bill and thought of him as a second father and role model. The nickname “Billy” was given to him as a boy growing up.

Al was preceded in death by his parents, Luther Alfred Hobbs and Lillie Alice Page Carlson. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Laverne Hobbs, with whom he had two daughters, Shirley Dodson (David Pavliska) of Round Rock, Texas, and Mary Ann Green (Donnie Green) of Cedar Creek, Texas. Also preceding him in death was his second wife, Nona Mae Hobbs, whose younger daughter, Glenda Bentley (BB Bentley), became Al’s “baby daughter.”

Besides his daughters, Al is survived by his sister, Laverne Marie Jones of Casa Grande, Arizona, six grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and eight great-great grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. Al lived a good, long, honest life, and unlike most, got to actually know his great-great grandchildren, and they got to know him, which was considered to be quite remarkable. He was a man so greatly loved and respected. He will be missed and remembered by everyone who knew him.

The family would like to especially thank the Gentiva Hospice nurses and staff for their excellent care and personal concern for Al while he was in home hospice care. They made all the difference in him being able to stay at home during his last months.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of love and remembrance for Al can be made to Cedar Creek United Methodist Church (CCUMC), P.O. Box 33, Cedar Creek, TX 78612.

A photo and video tribute celebrating Al's life can be viewed at: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7FF5GrKR7I__;!!M2D_dUfSiN4E!LNEPy42RH4zfGYv0-zYZ8vm3goDMTbWYZSyjtf5P77aui5NgweCopSmGW4U4j1L22GCOjeMczz38gn13-Pj1M8rHUarj4g$

Family and friends are invited to a visitation from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2023 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at the funeral home chapel. He will be laid to rest at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery.

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