Lena Ledbetter Hobbs, 91

Lena Ledbetter Hobbs, 91, of Dallas, Texas, died Nov. 17, 2020, in Dallas.

She was born Nov. 27, 1928, in Ozark County, the daughter of Hobart and Edna Reich Ledbetter. She grew up in the Lutie area, now Theodosia. After her mother’s death when Lena was 5 years old, her father married Maxine Hogan. In 1937 shortly after their 1936 marriage, the Ledbetters bought what became the Ledbetter Store in Theodosia. They owned and operated the landmark store for more than 50 years. 

Mrs. Hobbs  graduated from Gainesville High School in 1946 and attended classes at what is now Missouri State University to earn her teaching certificate.

On May 17, 1947, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, she married Ozark County native and World War II veteran Rex Hobbs. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Kansas City, where they lived for 20 years while Mr. Hobbs worked as a pressman employee at Hallmark Cards. After her husband took early retirement, they moved to Ozark, where Mrs. Hobbs worked for Christian County Social Services for many years and her husband was a self-employed cattle farmer and a school bus driver for the Ozark school district.

They moved to Texas in 1996 to be closer to their children and enjoyed retired life spending time with their grandchildren. 

Mrs. Hobbs was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas. 

She is survived by her daughter, Anita Hobbs-Horton of Austin, Texas, and her son, David Rex Hobbs and wife Robyn of Dallas; grandchildren Sophia Claire Horton Couch and husband Matt Couch of Austin, Jackson Niles Hobbs and Ava Devall Hobbs, both of Dallas; and great-grandson Carter Robert Couch of Austin; her sisters Joyce Ledbetter Hampton, and Sue Ledbetter Baber and husband Stan, all of Springfield; sisters-in-law Virginia Pinkley Ledbetter of Branson,  and Earlene Holmes Ledbetter of Springfield; and many cherished friends and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rex; her mother, Edna Reich Ledbetter; her father and stepmother Hobert and Maxine Ledbetter; and her brothers Darrell Travis Ledbetter and Dwight Hadley Ledbetter.

Burial will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423