Donald L. Hobson

Donald Leverne Hobson passed this life on December 31, 2021 in Ventura County, CA. 

Don was born June 23, 1931 in Spokane WA.  He was the oldest of 5 children and the only boy. The Hobson family settled in Fresno, CA where Don went to Fresno High School and Fresno State College.  Don joined the Navy in 1950 where he served his country during the Korean War.  He was a carrier pilot and later a flight instructor, earning an honorable discharge in 1956.  He went on to attend North West Christian College in Eugene, OR getting a Bachelor of Arts Degree. There he met the love of his life Diane (Woodey) Hobson.  Don and Diane were married shortly after they met.

The newlyweds moved to Enid OK, where Don worked as a Chaplain while earning his Master’s in Divinity at Phillips University Seminary.  Moving to Santa Paula, CA, Don served as a Pastor at First Christian Church until 1965.  He decided to fulfill his life’s calling in the mental health field by pursing higher education in the Psychology field.  He earned his Master’s in Social Work from Fresno State University in 1969 while working for Child Protective Services.   He moved his family to Camarillo, CA, to work at Camarillo State Hospital as a Social Worker in the Adolescent Psychiatry unit.  In 1975, he opened up a private psychology practice in Oxnard, CA and Camarillo, CA specializing in Marriage and Family Counseling. He earned his PhD in June of 1977.  He had a distinguished career helping others before retiring in 2016.

Don was a natural athlete and always very active.  His activities included hiking, camping, and backpacking.  In his later years, Don was an avid motorcycle enthusiast.  He started out in 1977 racing dirt bikes with his son, then took to riding a street bike for transportation and leisure.  He and Diane enjoyed countless rides and cross-country trips on a BMW Tour Bike and a Honda Gold Wing.  Their larger trips included the Pacific Northwest, Yellow Stone, Colorado, and Calgary, Canada.  Don also led a local monthly ride, “Don Hobson’s Street Ride” showing other riders the thrilling beauty of scenic roads and the value of safety.

Don had an unwavering love of his family, and a dedication of service to others. He was always trying to better his mind by voraciously reading and staying up-to-date on care standards and philosophies.  Don was a devoted husband, loving father of Marilyn, Donald and Tina, doting grandfather or “Papa”, and a robust presence in many other lives.

He is preceded in death by the love of his life, Diane June Woodey Hobson.  They both knew they had found their soulmates in each other when they met in a college cafeteria line.  Diane was very supportive of Don in his pursuit of education and a life of service.  Don also supported Diane in her life’s endeavors.  They lived, loved, and stayed together until 2005 when Diane passed away.  He stayed devoted to her up until his own last day.

He is also preceded in death by his parents Veo J. and Grace Hobson and his sister Francis Griffin.  He is survived by his children, Marilyn Adam of Westlake Village, CA; Donald Hobson of Bullhead City, AZ; Tina Tetz of Visalia, CA and their spouses Al Adam, Barbara Hood and Mark Tetz respectively.  He is also survived by his granddaughters Allison Adam and Erica Adam of Westlake Village, CA; his sisters Barbara Bradford, Anne Asadoor, and Dorothy Timmons, along with many nephews, nieces, and his childrens’ friends treated over the years like his own. 

Don’s Celebration of Life will be on February 4, 2022 at 10:00 am at Conejo Mountain Cemetery in Camarillo, CA.