Billy Joe Wingfield Hobbs , 87, of Hallettsville, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday April 23, 2023.

Billy was born on October 9 ^th , 1935, to Joe Letha and Johnnye Jacobs Hobbs in Bay City, Texas. After Billy graduated as the Valedictorian of Sheridan High School in 1953, he went on to study engineering at Texas A&M University where he also became a member of the Corps of Cadets.

Billy did not finish his degree but went on to do as his father had instructed him to do "To always live life to his fullest". Billy took those words to heart and everyone that knew him would agree that is just what he did during his 87 years. While still at Texas A&M he met Bobbie Jean Holle through a classmate and future brother-in-law. On November 11, 1957, Washington, Texas he and Bobbie decided to elope, and Bobbie joined him in Bay City where he had begun working at Jefferson Chemical. He decided to join the army in 1958 and became part of the 76 Engineer Company at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

After leaving the Army in 1961 he started working for Continental Oil Company (Conoco) where he worked until his early retirement in 1985. Conoco moved the family over the years from Hallettsville to Carrizo Springs, to Odessa and back to Hallettsville. Each place offering unique adventures for Billy and his family.

Upon returning to Hallettsville Billy became a rancher and embraced everything that it brought with it. He was an avid hunter and loved to travel. He and Bobbie were able to travel all over the world to places like Australia, New Zealand, the Amazon, Europe, Mexico and took numerous hunting and fishing trips to Alaska, Africa, and Colorado.

Billy had numerous hobbies and loved working in his workshop. Over his lifetime he constructed a log cabin, a small helicopter, a hovercraft, a canoe, a grandfather clock, knives, wood projects and many other projects too numerous to mention. He also had a love of animals. This led him to raise ostriches, emus, cattle, exotic deer, Siamese cats and even bring home wild animals that he found abandoned on his land. He even had a tree farm for a few years. There was no project to big or small to take on.

Billy had a strong will and was very generous person. Circumstances in his life gave him the means to help other people and he did that whenever he could.

Billy was a member of the Hallettsville Rotary Club and was President for two terms. He became the President of the Lavaca County Hospital Board for 10 years. Reserve Deputy Sheriff for 3 years, Reserve Deputy Game Warden for 21 years. Member of the First United Methodist Church, and a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years.

He is preceded in death by his parents Joe and Johnnye Hobbs and son Bruce Hobbs.

He is survived by his wife Bobbie and two children Roddy Hobbs and wife Lillian, and daughter Brenda Miller and her husband Michael. His four grandkids, Bryan Hobbs, Jacob Hobbs, Alexandria Miller, and Jordan Kellogg and husband Matt Kellogg. Four great grandkids, Jon, Steven, Kaitlin, and Zack Hobbs.

Funeral Service: 1 pm, Sunday, April 30, 2023, at First United Methodist Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 5 pm, Saturday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Memorials: Donor's Choice. Officiant: Rev. Patrick Melton. Burial: Hallettsville City Cemetery.