Norman Dean Hobbs

Norm was born May 28, 1936, in Portland, Oregon, to Dale and Mildred Hobbs. He was the 4th of 5 children, all who have preceded him in death except for Arley Hobbs of Summerdale, Alabama, who is 91 years old. Norm always wanted to leave this earth like his father who went out to his garden with his gardening gloves on and slipped away to heaven, but he was able to pass away at home, October 3, 2024, with his wife, his son, his daughter and son-in-law at his side. He was a faithful, loving, and strong husband, father, grandfather and Uncle Norm to many nieces and nephews.
When Norm was 17 he joined the U.S. Army and served honorably for 3 years. The Army wanted him to go to Officer Candidate School but Norm chose to go to Woodbury College where he obtained his BA in Business Administration with a major in Accounting in 1959.
In 1958 while still at Woodbury College, Norm married Josina Osorio and they bought their first home in So. California. Their beautiful daughter, Gigi, was born in 1959, and their handsome son, Guy, was born in 1960. After working for various firms in So. California and getting his CPA license, Norm had the opportunity to work with Price, Waterhouse, CPA's, in Chile, South America, for a couple years. Josina, his wife, was born in Chile so that was a special time for all the family. Norm's work in Chile expanded his knowledge and expertise while working with CPA's from South America and England.
Returning from Chile in 1965, Norm took his family to Portland, Oregon, where he had grown up, and made the NW the family home. Just a few years passed and Norm decided to venture out on his own, starting his CPA firm in Tigard, Oregon, in the late 60's. In a few short years Norm had established himself and his firm specializing in senior care and small hospitals, setting up accounting systems for them. The client list spanned 7 states and became a link between the state health care associations and what was happening in that field in Washington, DC. Being a sole practitioner, he worked very long hours, growing his firm and providing competent advice for many, many clients. In 1976 he sold his practice which included the main office in Portland and an office in Seattle with a total of over 60 employees to Moss Adams.
In late 1972, he and Josina divorced.
Early January, 1974, on an icy Saturday, Norm met Ann Koopmans at the Original Pancake House in Portland, Oregon. He had decided not to go skiing due to freezing rain and Ann was dropped off by the service people who were going to lube, oil, filter her car. He offered Ann a ride back to the service station telling her that she did not have the correct type of shoes on to walk almost a mile on black ice. Of course, Ann told him she did not take rides from "strange men" (should've said "strangers") so he asked the head waitress who was near retirement age if he was safe to give Ann a ride. She put her arm around Norm and said, "He's harmless. He eats here every morning on the way to his office". So, Ann took a chance and rode with him back to the service station where the two of them sat and chatted for an hour. Ann found out that his uncle had hired her to teach 2nd grade in the Beaverton school district! Anyway, he made a date with Ann for the following night. After about 1 1/2 years of dating, the two of them were married June 28, 1975, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church by Pastor Charlie Brown. Next year would've been Norm and Ann's 50th wedding anniversary.
Norm lived a very full and interesting life. He and Ann worked together creating businesses, restoring an 1890's house, building a large mini storage, starting a travel agency, and building or acquiring long term health care facilities, plus various other projects, some more successful than others. Throughout the process he met and worked with many talented and wonderful people, many who became friends.
In between various business projects, Norm and Ann were blessed to be able to travel and visit many parts of the world. From renting a car and visiting various game parks in South Africa, cruising around South America on the Delta Line (on one of the last 90 passenger bulk freighters which would stay in a port up to 3 days), cruising down the Amazon River, visiting the Galapagos Islands via a small 42 passenger cruise ship and being bit on his toe by a sea lion, visiting various parts of Mexico on both coasts as well as a few Central American countries, cruising the Far East and visiting Japan several times to visit son, Guy, and his family there, enjoying Australia and New Zealand with 16 or so friends in the long term care business, cruising the Greek Islands along with parts of Turkey, going on an "antique" 1958 Norwegian mailboat along the Norwegian coast, plus a couple trips to Alaska and several trips to Hawaii, visiting all 5 of the main islands. After 9/11 most travel was within the USA by car seeing most of the Western USA, much of the South and just a bit of New England (being from the West, Norm found it very congested).
Norm's love was his work, his family, gardening, exploring, collecting bronzes later in life. Each home he left the gardens more beautiful and welcoming to not only people but birds and wildlife. In his Portland garden which was close to 3 acres he had over 50 Japanese maples and various varieties of bamboo plus many other trees and shrubs complementing all the rhodies, azaleas, camellias and evergreens. It was a beautiful parklike yard with trails that the grandkids, nieces and nephews loved to explore.
To his wife and many family members, Norm was ageless, always ready to give you a tour of his yard, joke with you and sit down and visit over a nice meal. He is missed dearly by his wife, Ann, his daughter, Gigi (Ted Lambert) of Astoria, OR, his son, Guy (Tomoko) of Tokyo, Japan, grandchildren, Ted Lambert V, of Glendale, AZ, Imogen Lambert (Brendan Burgwinkle) of Cottonwood Heights, UT, Braden Lambert (Annika) of Bend, OR, and Alex Norman Ishizuka Hobbs (Eva Primec) of Tokyo, Japan, plus many, many brothers and sisters-in-laws, nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. No one will be able to "fill his shoes" as he was a special man to many.
Since Norm's family and friends are scattered not only across the USA but in Japan, Latin America and Europe, there will be no service. Please donate love, care, money to your family, friends, church, etc., as that is what he practiced. His was a man of quiet faith. "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." II Timothy 1:7