William Knight Hobin

William Knight Hobin, 78, beloved husband, father and grandfather, suddenly passed away in Palm Desert, CA, on April 24, 2018. A fifth generation native of California, born and raised in Stockton, Bill graduated from high school (Stockton College) in 1957. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1961 (Go Bears!) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. While at Berkeley, Bill was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He married Joan Bailey, of Los Angeles, in 1962 while stationed at Fort MacArthur serving in the US Army Artillery as a First Lieutenant. Moving back to Stockton in 1964, Bill joined his father, William John Hobin, at Eichelberger-Hobin Co., formerly the R.B. Oullahan Company, Real Estate and Insurance, founded in 1891. It was subsequently incorporated as The Hobin Company and he became CEO in 1968. Bill served as President of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, President of the Stockton Board of Realtors, and Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph's Medical Center. He was a member of the Stockton Golf and Country Club. The Hobins moved to Laguna Beach in 1986 where Bill opened the Southern California division of the Grupe Company, a California-based national homebuilder. In 1996, Joan and Bill moved to Marrakesh Country Club in Palm Desert where Bill continued in real estate at The Reserve Club. Mr. Hobin is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Joan Bailey Hobin, and his children Molly Hobin Williams (Tom Williams), Bill Hobin (London Hobin), Dan Hobin (Sara Hobin) and Tim Hobin (Dottie Hobin) and his 15 grandchildren, Tommy Williams, Erica Moore, Will, Ben, Charlotte, Cate, Hutch, Caroline, Charlie, Harrison, Cutler, Henry, Oliver, Finlay, and Eloise Hobin. Bill is also survived by his brother Patrick Hobin (Judy) and his sister Barbara Greene (Christopher) both of Stockton. Bill's passions were his close circle of family and friends and the years they spent at Kirkwood Meadows, where Bill was instrumental in the initial development of the ski resort. One of the highlights of his life was the year the family spent together, packed in a Volkswagen bus, traveling through 22 countries in Europe in 1978-79. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service to be held on Friday, May 11, 2018 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, 47535 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA. A reception will follow the service at Marrakesh Country Club, 47000 Marrakesh Drive, Palm Desert, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Hobin's name to St. Margaret's Episcopal Church (at the address above). FitzHenry-Wiefels Palm Desert has been entrusted with arrangements.