Ogden veteran Ray Hobbs recognized for a century of life, love, service
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- Ogden mayor Ben Nadolski, right, attends a celebration for the 100th birthday of Ray Hobbs on Friday, March 8, 2024.
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- Ogden resident Ray Hobbs celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
OGDEN — Ray Hobbs has been a lot of things throughout his life. He was a caddy, a service station worker and a stereotyper for the Standard-Examiner. He also has loaded boxcars, flown B-17 bombers during World War II and been a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather to an ever-expanding family.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg for Hobbs, and now he has added another thing to his list — centenarian.
Hobbs celebrated his 100th birthday Wednesday, an accomplishment in and of itself. However, when asked about the secret to his longevity, the lifelong Ogden resident offered an exceedingly practical response.
“One day at a time,” Hobbs told the Standard-Examiner. “Last October, I didn’t think I was going to make it. I had a mini-stroke, and then I had a heart attack. And they didn’t give me much chance of making it. But I’m still here.”
Last week, Hobbs was honored at a gathering with friends and family near his home. During the party, members of the the 492nd Fighter Squadron led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Hobbs.
Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski was in attendance for the event, during which he declared March 13, 2024, would be “Raymond Malan Hobbs Day” in Ogden. While addressing Hobbs and the other guests, Nadolski described the opportunity to recognize the veteran as an “honor.”
Hobbs was similarly impressed by the acknowledgement.
“I thought, ‘A day for Ray? What the heck? Golly. Oh my goodness,'” he said.
Regarding his greatest accomplishments, Hobbs spoke first of his participation in Operation Chowhound, a humanitarian relief project that saw him and the rest of the 95th Bomb Group — based at England’s Horham airfield — drop food for the starving Dutch from their planes as WWII neared its end.
“I was blessed to fly the six mercy missions to Holland,” Hobbs said. “I’ve thought of it so much through my life and been so thankful for that privilege, and it was an honor to have been able to serve those people.”
Hobbs graduated from Ogden High School in 1942. The previous year — on Dec. 8, 1941, one day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor — he went on a blind date with Lois Crosbie. The two went on to marry on Oct. 19, 1944, while Hobbs was stationed in Roswell, New Mexico.
They were together for the better part of seven decades; Lois died in 2012 at the age of 85. And while Hobbs may or may not hold the secret to long life, he offered some sage advice for those hoping to enjoy a long-lasting and fruitful marriage.
“Tell her I love her every day,” he said. “I do, still do.”
After a century of life, Hobbs still has plenty of living left to do. He spoke of his growing family, his neighbors and his church. He also has one big date that’s circled on the proverbial calendar — a reunion with the old crew.
“I’m hoping to stay for June. In mid-June, we’re going to have the 95th Bomb Group meeting here in Ogden,” he said.
The world has changed all around Hobbs. Buildings have been built and torn down, many of the fields he used to play in have succumbed to the suburban sprawl, the horse troughs that lined the streets of Ogden in his youth are long gone. But the love he has for his wife, his family, his home and his service continues to run strong.