Edward John Dobbs

Edward J. Dobbs joined the ranks of countless angels on January 6, 2025. He made his entrance into the world in Brooklyn, New York, after he kicked his twin sister, Maryann, out of the womb first, such a gentleman, on February 23, 1941. His parents were in for a surprise when the doctor, casually enjoying a cigarette, informed them that there was another baby on the way.
For the first fifteen years of his life, Ed called Brooklyn home. He and Maryann spent their summers at camps in upstate New York, where Ed proudly served as one of the youngest altar boys. At the age of 15, he made the bold decision to run away to Newport, Arkansas, to live with his father and stepmother.
Adjusting to life in Arkansas was quite the change for "Eddie John," but he quickly became quite the charmer among the ladies. He attended the University of Arkansas for a semester before choosing to enlist in the Air Force, where he worked as a radar technician and contributed to the development of radar technology.
In 1961, Ed met Rose Ann Pelikan on a blind date (and what a blind date it was!), and they tied the knot on May 5, 1962, while Ed was stationed at Castle AFB in California. They welcomed their daughter, Linda, followed by their son, Tom, four years later. Throughout Ed's 23-year Air Force career, he and Rose moved around for various assignments, including locations like the Azores, Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio, Mountain Home AFB in Idaho, and Scott AFB in Illinois, with remote stints in Thule, Greenland, and Osan, South Korea.
There were times when Ed had to be away from home, and during those periods, Rose took on the responsibility of raising Linda and Tom. After retiring from the Air Force in 1982, the family settled in Puyallup, Washington, where Ed and Rose lived until his passing. Following his military career, Ed became an electrician for the US Postal Service, attending several training programs in Oklahoma before finally retiring from there in 2003.
Ed was always on the move, and in 2001, he began his journey as a docent at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Every Tuesday, he dedicated four hours of his time to volunteering, aiming to reach a remarkable milestone of 5,000 hours. Unfortunately, he passed away just shy of that goal, with 4,950 hours logged. We are grateful that the Museum of Flight will continue to honor his dedication by recognizing his contributions with the 5,000-hour achievement.
In addition to his work at the museum, Ed started volunteering at the Francis House in Puyallup every Thursday from August 2003, where he tested donated electronics. He and his wife, Rose, also became members of the Daffodil Roamers, an RV club that allowed them to make wonderful friends and explore the Northwest and the world together. Those were truly joyful times.
A devoted man, Ed was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. His unwavering faith in God provided him strength during his battle with esophageal cancer, which he was diagnosed with on Halloween. He was a remarkable individual who left behind a powerful legacy, teaching others how to be kind, resourceful, loving, humorous, family-oriented, and a true friend.
Ed is survived by his wife, Rose, with whom he shared 62.5 years; his daughter Linda Gill (Pat); his son Tom Dobbs (Sandy); grandchildren Jessica Gill (Rohith), Caitlin Gill (John), and Trent, Logan, and Riley Dobbs; his twin sister Maryann Dobbs; and countless friends and acquaintances.
The rosary and funeral will be held at All Saints Church in Puyallup on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 9:30 am, followed by military honors at Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery in Auburn. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Hope for Heroes Horsemanship Center at 14528 Avis Lane SE, Yelm, WA 98597.