Dr. Kenneth Craig Hobbs

DR. KENNETH CRAIG HOBBS C.M., O. Ont., M.D. May 26, 1928 - May 6, 2010 Passed away at the age of 81 and has gone to join his dear wife Eva Ilona Hobbs. Beloved father of John, Anne Elizabeth (Greg) and Mary Katherine (Joe). Devoted 'Uppie' to Mikaela, Brady, Eric and Angelina. Ken is survived by his older brother John and wife Audrey and sisters-in-law Betty Jenkins (oldest sister of Eva) and Anna Hobbs (wife of younger brother William). Ken was the middle son of Craig and Beulah Hobbs of Ottawa, Ontario. At 16 he left home on the RMS Nascopie for the eastern Arctic as a crew member. He also was a crew member of the tramp steamer 'Maria G.' and travelled to Buenos Aires and Belgium. In 1948, Ken entered pre-medicine at the University of Western Ontario. There he made many lifelong friendships and met the love of his life, his wife of over 53 years, Eva Ilona Stumpf. He received his Bachelor of General Science and then went on to medical school in 1951. He spent his summers as a Cook working on federal government topographic survey parties. He worked in the Chibougamau area of Quebec, the interior of British Columbia and the mountains of the Yukon. Ken graduated and became a Doctor on June 4, 1954. He interned at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and did his residency in general practice at the Ohio Valley General Hospital in Wheeling, West Virginia. It was there that he met his partner in practice, Dr. George Jaciw. Their friendship and partnership lasted Ken's lifetime. George and Ken began their medical practice in Whitby, Ontario in July, 1957. Ken became active in the community of Whitby beginning with the public school board and was first elected in 1959. Ken served as Chairman from 1960 to 1965. He then was elected to the town of Whitby as a Councilor in 1967 and served in that capacity until 1976. He was appointed to the steering committee for the Whitby General Hospital in 1959 and acted as site committee Chairman and was elected to the board of governors in 1962 to 1970. He later went on to become Chairman of the building committee, Chairman of the Board and finally Chief of Staff. Many years were spent travelling in a travel trailer exploring Canada and the United States. In 1959, Ken tried the Lions' Club and Kiwanis Club but it wasn't until he joined the Rotary Club of Whitby in 1976 that he truly found his place. Ken would always be grateful to Bill Nurse for inviting him to become a Rotarian. A new world of service was opened up to Ken. As a Rotarian, Ken and Eva hosted nine exchange students throughout the years. Ken travelled to Haiti in March, 1979 for Rotary, then Ken's turning point was becoming involved with the measles vaccine to India. In September 1979, Ken and Eva made their first of many trips to India at their own expense. Helping India would become Ken's passion for the remainder of his life. It was in India that Ken met another passionate friend, Krish Chitale. Together these two worked to help improve medical treatment in India through immunizations for measles and polio, the Child's Trust Hospital, a rehabilitation of the handicapped, education and water restoration projects, assisting the 'Little Sisters of the Poor' organization as well as taking a group study exchange group. Ken and Eva also worked as volunteers in the Vietnamese boat camps in Hong Kong treating refugees in 1980. Ken and Eva also travelled to Africa volunteering to improve the life of polio victims through the making of better braces and immunizing against polio. Ken and Eva also volunteered in Indonesia. He was on the initial steering committee for Polio Plus Program to help irradicate Polio in many parts of the world. Ken was President of the Rotary Club of Whitby(1984-1985) and District Governor (1985-1986). Ken wanted others to learn about some of the miracles he was blessed to have been privileged to and wrote a book entitled 'Diary of a Miracle' about his and Eva's volunteer experiences. Ken has received many awards and recognition for his lifetime work in the community of Whitby and his volunteer work abroad. He has received the Peter Perry Award, had a wing named after him in the Whitby General Hospital, was a recipient of the Commemorative Medal, Golden Jubilee Medal, Paul Harris Fellow, the Order of Ontario, Order of Canada and Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ontario Long Term Care Association. Ken's light truly faded with the passing of his dear wife and love Eva on May 27, 2007 and was never truly the same. Unfortunately dementia set in and was required to spend his final days under the loving and patient care of the Community Care Nursing Home Aspen Unit. The family can never truly thank those dedicated staff members of the Aspen Unit for making Dad's time there as comfortable as possible. The family would also like to express their gratitude to the many friends and 'angels' who have helped support and nurture them in facing dad's final years. Dr. Hobbs is resting at the Armstrong Funeral Home, 124 King Street East, Oshawa on Sunday, May 9th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Please join the family in celebrating Ken's life from St. Mark's United Church (201 Centre Street South, Whitby) on Monday, May 10th at 11 a.m. Rev. Molly Thomson officiating. Interment Groveside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Community Care Nursing Home, Aspen Unit Garden Fund or the Rotary Foundation would be greatly appreciated. For online condolences and donations please visit www.armstrongfuneralhome.net