James Kenneth Dobson

James Kenneth Dobson

August 4, 1951 – August 11, 2025

It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of James Kenneth Dobson, also known to many as Kenny, and to his lucky lottery inner circle as “Cash” or “Cash3”.

Born on August 4, 1951 in Memphis, Tennessee he is preceded in death by his wife, Lynn Dobson, mother Magileen Wright, father James Louis Dobson, bothers Earl and Wayne Dobson, and grand children Elizabeth Dawn Whitaker, and Daniel Ray Dobson. He is survived by his four children, Kirk Mathew Dobson, Angela Kaye Pierce and Jason Lee Dobson all of Summerville, Ga and Joy Beth Acosta of Fayetteville, NC. He has one sister, Margaret Schaaf of Wilson, NC. He also has 8 surviving grandchildren- Cody, Joshua, Kristina, Kirina, Alexis, Jonathan, Brennan, Trenton, and Addy as well as one great granddaughter Elliauna. He also deeply loved his nieces and nephew, Tammy, Tiffany, and Mark.

Kenny spent 74 years making people laugh, loving deeply, and firmly believing that this was the week his numbers would hit. He passed peacefully on August 11, 2025, in the comforts of his home shared with his daughter JoyBeth, in Fayetteville, NC; likely still plotting his next set of Powerball picks.

Kenny was best known for two things: telling the kind of dirty jokes that made you laugh and look over your shoulder, and treating every person he met with warmth, humor, and respect. Whether you were family, friend, or cashier number 7 at the gas station, Kenny made you feel like you mattered, and probably tried to make you blush.

A lifelong bowler with a killer hook and an even better post-strike victory dance, Kenny was happiest with a ball in one hand, an Old Milwaukee in the other, and jokes in his back pocket. He believed life was like bowling: aim true, keep your shoes clean, and always be ready to laugh when the pins don’t fall your way.

And of course, the lottery. Lord, the lottery. If optimism had a mascot, it was Cash holding a scratch-off ticket and saying, “This one feels lucky.” It didn’t usually work out, but that never stopped him. In a world that could use more hope, Cash had it in spades and spare change.

Kenny had four children who he loved with all his heart, in his own unique and unconditional way. They’ll carry his stories, his sense of humor, and probably a few of his jokes they can never repeat in polite company.

In Kenny’s honor, go buy a scratch-off. Tell a slightly inappropriate joke. Be kind to someone you don’t know. And remember: life is short: laugh loud, love big, and never give up on the jackpot.

Rest easy, Cash. You may not have hit the big one down here, but we’re betting Heaven just got a whole lot funnier.

A visitation will be held 3:00 – 4:00 PM Saturday, August 16, 2025 at LaFayette Funeral Home, 6651 Raeford Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28304. A service to Celebrate his life will begin at 4:00 PM Following the visitation.