Wilton Dale Hobbs

GARNER-Wilton Dale Hobbs, 81, passed away March 1, 2023 at the Smithfield SECU Hospice House. He was born on April 18, 1941 in New Hanover County. He was the son of the late Bernice Milton Hobbs and Vara Strickland Hobbs.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Betty Gray Hobbs. Daughter Susan Hobbs Pittman and husband Roy Pittman. His daughter Lynette Dale Hobbs and his baby daughter Kimberly Dawn Hobbs and friend Teddy Bates. Grandson Chris Pittman and his wife Lora. Granddaughter Aleisha Pittman Wisz and husband Matt. Great Grandsons Brennan and Preston. Many nieces and nephews and many “adopted” daughters and sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many cousins and beloved Family.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents Bernice Milton Hobbs and Vara Strickland Hobbs. His brother Milton Hobbs. His Sister In Law Ann Hobbs. Nephew Mike Hobbs and Niece Summer Hobbs Jordan.

Dale was an active member of Mt. Pleasant Advent Christian Church which was founded by his Great Grandparents Hector and Emily Strickland..Through the years of his service at Mt. Pleasant Dale taught Sunday School for over 50 years, was very active in youth ministries where he mentored so many young people. He played the piano, was a deacon for many years and served in many other capacities. He was an Elder of the church up until his death. His passion for his church was unquestionable. Besides being dedicated to the service of the Lord within his own church he also served on the Camp Dixie Board for 39 years which is a youth Camp where all three of his daughters and both of his grandchildren spent many summers. He was very passionate about the ministry of Camp Dixie.

Dale also served as President of the Advent Christian Conference for 13 years.

In 2013 Dale, along with his devoted wife Betty, was appointed as Ambassadors to the Eastern North Carolina Conference in which he honorably served in that capacity until the time of his death.

If there is one thing that Dale believed in it was hard work. Dale’s first job was at Byrd’s drive-In where he began as a curb hop, soda jerk and eventually became chief cook and bottle washer. This is also where he would eventually be introduced and meet his eventual wife. She was 14 and he was 17 years old. Dale went to Wake Tech for Architectural Engineering where he made straight A’s. He also worked at the News and Observer on the overnight shift in the editorial department as a proofreader. He worked for Overnite Transportation on the graveyard shift after leaving the News &Observer.

After Dale graduated as an engineer from Wake Tech he went to work for an architectural firm for two years but eventually worked for Cast-A-Stone where he was an architect for 10 years until 1994 at which time he retired. He ultimately went into the seamless gutter business with his brother Milton and soon had his own gutter business where he also retired. Even in retirement Dale remained a mentor in the business and made all specialty material needed for jobs. If it could be made out of metal he could make it. Dale and his wife Betty also made metal ornamental flowers in his retirement years. Idleness was not in his vocabulary.

Only in his last couple of years was Dale met with several health issues that he bravely faced and ultimately ended up on dialysis. Dale definitely fought a good fight, all the while steadfastly trusting his journey to the Lord. Many would expect all of this hard work to produce callouses on his hands but instead, Dale’s callouses developed on his knees as he fervently spent many hours on his knees in front of his recliner dutifully praying for anything and everybody. He took it ALL to the Lord. If he ever said he would pray about something you can know that he was on his knees about it.

A Celebration of Life for Dale will be held on March 12, 2023 at 1:00pm at Mt. Pleasant Advent Christian Church located at 3171 NC Hwy 42 West Clayton, NC 27520. A visitation with the family will follow the celebration. In lieu of flowers it is the wishes of his wife Betty and family to make memorial donations in Dale’s Honor to his two passions: Mt. Pleasant AC Church (C/O Lynette Hobbs 255 Kentucky Dr. Archer Lodge, NC 27527) and/or Camp Dixie (PO Box 288 St. Pauls, NC 28384) https://campdixiegiving.campbraingiving.com/