Mabel R. Hobbs, 98, of Newton, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, at Newton Healthcare Center. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the funeral home. Memorials to the First UnitedMethodist Church may be left at the funeral home.
Mabel, the daughter of Elmer and Birdie (Brown) Kingery, was born Feb. 27, 1921, in Monroe. She lived in Monroe for a short time until her family moved to Newton. She graduated from Newton High School in 1939. Before getting married, Mabel lived in both Des Moines and California until returning to Newton, where she worked for the Maytag Company. Mabel was united in marriage with Wyndall Hobbs April 16, 1949. She later worked as a cook at the Newton Country Club for 18 years before retiring. Mabel was a member of the First United Methodist Church and volunteered at Willowbrook Adult Day Care for 20 years. She enjoyed ceramics, crocheting, sending cards and writing letters.
Mabel is survived by her three children, Delores Gibbs of Newton, Denise Sutton of Newton and Robert (Cindy) Hobbs of Johnston; grandchildren, Joli Gibbs, Alli Gibbs (Chris Kelly), Holly Thomas, Andrea Kingrey, Austin Warren, Nicholas Thomas, Stephanie Warren, Garry Cunningham and Anthony Cunningham; her 11 great-grandchildren; siblings, Myrt Schwarz of Newton and Clifford “Buzz” (Carol) Kingery of Newton; and her many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wyndall; son, Gary Hobbs; siblings, Larry, Clarence, Harrold and Walt Kingery; and son-in-law, Bill Gibbs.
