Joseph Bobbitt, Jr
August 3, 1921 — September 1, 2012
Joseph Bobbitt, Jr
Joseph T. Bobbitt, Jr., 91, of Hillsboro passed away Saturday, September 1, 2012, in his home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 8, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Hillsboro with Rev. Danny Gilliam officiating. Burial will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, September 7, 2012, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro.
Joe was born August 3, 1921 in Hillsboro to the late Joseph “Jake” T. and Julia Ferrell (Marshall) Bobbitt, Sr. He was a graduate of Abbott High School where he excelled in many sports. He later attended Hill College to pursue a career as an athlete. Following his third year at Hill, he enlisted in the Naval Air Corp and served as a pilot and flight instructor through World War II. After being called back to service in 1953 Joe dedicated the rest of his career to the Air Force, switching to the Air Force Civil Service in 1959 and retiring in 1979.
A lifelong athlete, Joe’s proudest achievements were in his favorite sports. While he played football, baseball, and basketball in high school and college, he defined himself in golf and roque. Joe grew up playing roque on the Hillsboro City Park courts and golf at the Hillsboro Country Club. With only a month to practice after he came home from the war, he became the 1946 National Roque Champion. He placed second in the tournament to defend his title in 1947. Once he was called back to the Air Force in 1953, he belonged to the Corry and Westover golf teams and won many tournaments. In 1954, he was part of the team that placed second in the USAF-MATS tournament in Prestwick, Scotland.
In 1948 Joe married his childhood sweetheart Geraldine “Jerry” Phillips in Hillsboro. They enjoyed living and raising their daughter in O’Fallon, IL for the majority of their lives. After Jerry’s death in 2007, and 59 years of marriage, Joe returned to Hillsboro to be close to his family and the city he loved. He attended First Baptist Church in Hillsboro.
Also preceding him in death were his close family members, Ester Lee Marshall “Little Auntie”, Hazel Wakefield, Frank McGregor, and Rick Corbin.
Survivors include his daughter, Pamela Jo Bobbitt-Pierson and husband, John; granddaughter, Hannah Ferrell Heller and husband, Aaron; grandson, Joseph R. Pierson; close cousins that include, Doris Mason McGregor, Martha McGregor and Doc Dwyer, Judge Bob McGregor and Brenda, Dusty Stribling and Gene, Sarah Corbin, Lee Corbin, and David Corbin; as well as his good friend and golf partner, Ronald Orr.
  Born: August 3, 1921  Place of Birth: Hillsboro, TX  Death: September 1, 2012  Place of Death: Hillsboro, TX
Joe was born August 3, 1921 in Hillsboro to the late Joseph “Jake” T. and Julia Ferrell (Marshall) Bobbitt, Sr. He was a graduate of Abbott High School where he excelled in many sports. He later attended Hill College to pursue a career as an athlete. Following his third year at Hill, he enlisted in the Naval Air Corp and served as a pilot and flight instructor through World War II. After being called back to service in 1953 Joe dedicated the rest of his career to the Air Force, switching to the Air Force Civil Service in 1959 and retiring in 1979.
A lifelong athlete, Joe’s proudest achievements were in his favorite sports. While he played football, baseball, and basketball in high school and college, he defined himself in golf and roque. Joe grew up playing roque on the Hillsboro City Park courts and golf at the Hillsboro Country Club. With only a month to practice after he came home from the war, he became the 1946 National Roque Champion. He placed second in the tournament to defend his title in 1947. Once he was called back to the Air Force in 1953, he belonged to the Corry and Westover golf teams and won many tournaments. In 1954, he was part of the team that placed second in the USAF-MATS tournament in Prestwick, Scotland.
In 1948 Joe married his childhood sweetheart Geraldine “Jerry” Phillips in Hillsboro. They enjoyed living and raising their daughter in O’Fallon, IL for the majority of their lives. After Jerry’s death in 2007, and 59 years of marriage, Joe returned to Hillsboro to be close to his family and the city he loved. He attended First Baptist Church in Hillsboro.
Also preceding him in death were his close family members, Ester Lee Marshall “Little Auntie”, Hazel Wakefield, Frank McGregor, and Rick Corbin.
Survivors include his daughter, Pamela Jo Bobbitt-Pierson and husband, John; granddaughter, Hannah Ferrell Heller and husband, Aaron; grandson, Joseph R. Pierson; close cousins that include, Doris Mason McGregor, Martha McGregor and Doc Dwyer, Judge Bob McGregor and Brenda, Dusty Stribling and Gene, Sarah Corbin, Lee Corbin, and David Corbin; as well as his good friend and golf partner, Ronald Orr.
  Born: August 3, 1921  Place of Birth: Hillsboro, TX  Death: September 1, 2012  Place of Death: Hillsboro, TX
Visitation
Friday September 7, 2012 , 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. at Marshall & Marshall Funeral DirectorsFuneral Service
Saturday September 8, 2012 , 2:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church of HillsboroBurial
Saturday September 8, 2012 at Ridge Park Cemetery Share your thoughts and memories in the guestbook.Guestbook
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