Barbara Mary Laura (Smith) Hobbs (1917 - 2005)

Born 5 Feb 1917 in Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas

Ancestors

Died 4 Apr 2005 at age 88 in Kamloops Seniors Village, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

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Biography

Barbara (Smith) Hobbs is part of a Bahamian family.

Barbara Hobbs died peacefully April 4, 2005 at Kamloops Seniors Village, Kamloops, BC. Barbara was born February 5, 1917, in Nassau, Bahamas, the daughter of Francis Theodore Gordon Smith and (Evelyn) Maude deCatto Smith. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 55 years, Beverly Harold Hobbs, in 2004. Barbara is survived by her brother Basil Smith and his wife Joy and family of Ulverton, Quebec; children Ken Nix, Fort St. John, BC, Brian (Diana) Hobbs, Kamloops, and Brenda (Thomas) Baumeister, South Surrey. “Honey” was the devoted grandmother of Michaela and Elena Hobbs, and Mia, Marc, Lane, Blake, Austyn, and Mason Baumeister.

Education was always important to Barbara. She went to Queen’s College in Nassau and attained Cambridge matriculation. Barbara worked for the electrical department for years in Nassau and traveled extensively as a young woman.

She met Bev Hobbs while visiting a Bahamian girlfriend in BC in 1947. Bev and Barb were married in Hazelton in 1949. There she worked as a court stenographer and spent several years working for the Department of Indian Affairs. She was a partner with Bev in his logging business and assisted him as Postmaster.

Barbara was a pioneer in teaching adult education in northern BC, beginning about 1962 in Hazelton. The family moved to Terrace, BC in 1964 when she was asked to help develop the first full time adult education programme, teaching business English, medical transcription, shorthand, typing, and math, which later evolved into the clerical programme at Northwest Community College. She ultimately earned her teaching degree from the University of British Columbia, and was well loved as a mentor and role model for generations of students during her teaching career. Barbara retired from NWCC in 1981.

Barbara was a member of the ACW and Altar Guild in the parishes of St. Peter’s (Hazelton) and St. Matthew’s (Terrace) – an active and enthusiastic contributor of the flowers for the sanctuary, bazaars, and potluck dinners.

Barb loved to work in her yard, and her colourful rock garden was a local tourist attraction. She and Bev traveled and camped all over the country, often with friends. They enjoyed fishing, berry picking, hunting, snowshoeing, exploring, or just a walk and a can of tea over an open fire.

Funeral services will be held in St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Terrace, BC on Saturday, May 14, 2005 at I p.m.

The family would like to thank the staffs at Kamloops Seniors Village, Ponderosa Lodge, and The Shores, Phil Trainor, Julie Bennett, and Dr. Sigalet, for their love and devotion over the four years Barbara lived in Kamloops. Should friends desire, donations to the B.C. Heart and Stroke Foundation, 201 – 1456 St. Paul St., Kelowna, B. C., V1Y 2E6 in memory of Barbara would be appreciated.

DNA

• Test Taker of mtDNA kit 93755.

Sources

• "Bahamas Civil Registration, 1850-1959," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RS5-PQB?cc=1922411&wc=Q4ZG-RMS%3A216283401 : 29 July 2015), Births 1917-1919 > image 13 of 717; Registrar General, Nassau.

• Bahamas DNA Project, Direct Maternal Line Descendant Charts https://genealogy.hopetownmuseum.com/bahamasdnaproject/bahydna.htm

• Obituary for Barbara Mary Laura Agatha (nee Smith) Hobbs published in the Terrace Standard, Terrace, British Columbia on 4 April 2005, https://www.terracestandard.com/obituaries/barbara-mary-laura-agatha-smith-hobbs/

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190641633/barbara-mary_laura_agatha-hobbs