Glen Richard Hobbs

Glen Richard "Pete" Hobbs passed from this earthly life with family beside his bed in his home near Clever, MO on February 27, 2023. Richard was born September 28, 1940 in a farm house outside the farming town of Pleasant Hill, Illinois. He was the youngest child and only son of his parents, Kenneth Glen and Elizabeth Marie (Moyers) Hobbs, who were farmers in the Mississippi River bottom lands of Pike County. He had three older sisters. Richard was actively involved in the farmwork from childhood. He graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1958, then went to Western Illinois University to study Agriculture. After three months away, he returned home to the rural life he loved and to his hometown sweetheart Sara Beth Weir. They married June 24, 1961 and moved into an old 2-story farmhouse on a farm near Pleasant Hill where they began their family and their life together on the farm. They had four children – Lora, Jon, Marcia and Maria. Jon was killed in a farming accident in 1977.
When the kids were still young, Richard bought a farm in hills north of Pleasant Hill and built a home for his family there. He raised corn and soybeans, using no-till methods, and he raised hogs and beef cattle.
He and his family were very active in the Pleasant Hill Christian Church, where Richard served as an elder for many years. Richard carried the vision and drive for a new location and facilities for Mississippi Valley Christian Service Camp where he served as chairman of the board for over 30 years. Richard and Sara took several mission trips to Mexico (usually with van loads of college students), as well as to Tanzania and Haiti. In Tanzania, Richard worked with a team of physical therapists to design custom crutches, walkers, personal transportation devices and wheelchairs for adults and children who could not walk. Each person came in handicapped and left with the gift of mobility.
Richard and Sara traveled to Port de Paix, Haiti and served Sonlight Academy several times over the years. As Richard heard diesel-powered generators humming, he would look up to the sky and say, "The sun shines in Haiti every day. Solar power is readily available." So, eventually he led the way to Sonlight adopting solar power, saving them thousands of dollars in fuel costs each year, as well as making the dominant sound in the school playground the sound of children playing, rather than loud generators.
Richard and Sara spent time several winters on South Padre Island, TX, and took cruises with their family to Alaska and to the Panama Canal. Richard won an essay-writing contest about raising non-GMO soybeans that won him and Sara an all-expense paid trip to Japan where they toured agricultural production sites and talked with Japanese farmers.
In 2012, Richard and Sara decided to make a move to the Missouri Ozarks to be nearer their daughters and soon-to-arrive grandson. They bought a farm outside Clever, MO where they raise beef cattle. It has been such a blessing to them and to their family for all of them to be in close proximity to one another. They have been actively involved in their church family, Christian Community. Richard spent his life giving Christian faith hands and feet and heart and energy. To quote long-time family friend and principal at Sonlight Academy in Haiti: He helped everyone to see how God loves his children.
Richard was preceded in death by his son Jon Richard Hobbs, his parents (named above), his sister Donna (LH, Jr) Holcomb, his brother-in-law Paul "Joe" Weir, Jr and his in-laws, Paul and Iretta (Sutton) Weir. He is survived by his wife of over 61 years, Sara Beth, as well as his three daughters Lora Hobbs of Clever, Missouri, Marcia and her husband Dean VanderWal of Raymore, MO and Maria and her husband Gary Lewis and son Kai of Nixa, MO. Two older sisters, June Dykman of Abilene, TX and Mary Tieken of Quincy, IL survive. Along with being survived by cousins, nieces and nephews, he has many others who call him "Dad", "Pa" and "Grandpa."
A Celebration of Life and Faith will be held Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Schweitzer Church's Student Center (2701 E Sunshine, Springfield, MO) from 1 – 4 pm, service beginning at 2 pm. A Zoom Livestream will also be available starting at 1.
Ashes will be interred at a graveside service at Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill, IL, Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11 am.
The family encourages that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to Sonlight Academy, PO Box 8031, Evansville, IN 47716 or Sonlight Ministries online gift.