James "JimBob" Michael Hobbs

James Michael “JimBob” Hobbs passed away at his home Saturday Aug. 7, after a long battle with numerous chronic illnesses.  He was born Oct. 19, 1959 in Hawthorne, California, to James and Patricia Hobbs, Jimmy grew up in Barberton, then later enjoyed living in the Cambridge area of southern Ohio.

He worked as a laborer and was a carpenter by trade. He enjoyed fishing, boating, nature, hunting and was a master gardener. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea, where he also started to train and compete in “old-school” martial arts, his lifelong field of achievement. In the 1980s, he was a Tae-Kwon-Do instructor in Barberton and continued to study and train in various disciplines. In 2018, he was certified by the Korean Hwarang Martial Arts Federation as a Master 5th Dan Black Belt. He was a member of the U.S. National Grand Master Federation. In 2017, he was inducted into Action Martial Arts magazine’s Hall of Honors. Well-known as a gifted comedian among his family and friends, he made sure we all had a good time; he could bring a person to tears with laughter! His fun, his singing and dancing, and his cheerful, loving spirit will be sorrowfully missed, along with his strength and perseverance.

Jimmy is survived by his devoted wife, Sandra; son, Jesse James (Lindsay) Hobbs; daughter, Jillian Denise Hobbs; grandchildren, Faith, Brooklyn, Aiden, Samantha and Christopher; mother, Patricia Hobbs; sisters, Mickie Brown, Terry (Alan) McKee, Bonnie Hobbs and JoAnna (Mark) McClelland; brother Walter “Goober” Hobbs; brothers-in-law Jerry (Katie), Claude and Ricky Norman, sister-in-law Debbie (Todd); and many adoring nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his special aunt, Elsie Knight, and cousins, Rickie (Linda) Knight, Kellie (Rick) Cunningham, and April Knight; and numerous second cousins. He also leaves many beloved friends, neighbors and extended family. He is preceded in death by his father, James Henry Hobbs, and grandparents, Walter and Bonnie Mervine.

 Cremation will be observed with no additional services held at this time. The family is planning a memorial service to be held at a later date. 

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