HOBIN, Rev. Cecil

The family announces with sorrow his death Saturday, July 8, 2006 as the result of a fall getting out his lawnmower. Cec was still cutting the lawn at the age of 92. He was the dearly loved husband of Lorraine (Stamp) and the proud and loving father of Paul Hobin (John Matea) of North Bay, Penny Phillips (Dwayne) of Texas, Gail Rouse (Ron) of Maryland, Gary Hobin (Liddell) of Kansas. He was grandfather of Avery and Tessa Phillips, Nancy Haupt (Rick), Jim Ehrenfried (Kim), Jon Ehrenfried (Becky), and Brian Hobin (Belina) and great grandfather of Nathan, Joseph and Maddie Hobin, Chris and Paige Haupt and Connor and Lindsey Ehrenfried. Cecil will be remembered with love by his in-laws Lloyd and Pat Stamp and Lois and Ross Carey and their families - Leslie Stamp; Scott and Ruth (Meeker) Stamp and Andrew; Steven and Annabel (Turnock) and Samantha Carey; Ruth (Carey) and Mark, Raymond, Michael and Graham Gauthier.

Cecil grew up in Rochester, New York. He served in the U.S. merchant marine in WWII. He had a lengthy career in sales with a variety of firms, including Pitney Bowes in Cleveland, Ohio. Cecil, Lorraine and family moved to North Bay in 1970 where he became involved in lay ministry in the United Church of Canada at Carmichael/Phelps/Feronia. This led to a return to university at age fifty-nine as a candidate for ordained ministry from St. Andrew's United Church. While a student he was voted Most Valuable Player on the Emmanuel College, University of Toronto soccer team. During his four years in university, Cec was student minister at the Elmwood/Crawford Pastoral Charge of the United Church.

Following his ordination at age sixty-three he served the South Porcupine United Church for nineteen years. On his return to North Bay he served as the Protestant Chaplain at the Canadian Forces Base for six years, retiring in October 2005 at the age of ninety-one. In 1955 Cecil was introduced to the beauty of the Canadian wilderness and his future wife Lorraine at Camp Pathfinder in Algonquin Park where he was a lifeguard and canoe tripper. In 1978 he was proud to become a citizen of the country he had grown to love. He earned his pilot's license in 1964 and enjoyed many years flying his Cessna 182 in Canada and the U.S.

Cec was a world traveller who danced on the beaches of Bora Bora, walked the Great Wall of China with Dr. Bob McLure, discovered the holy places of Israel, travelled by elephant in India and camels in Egypt and Jordan, cruised the Yangtze and Nile Rivers, climbed to the top of the thirteen storey Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, circled Mount Everest by plane in Nepal and was part of a United Church delegation to South Africa. Cecil enjoyed the company of his pets and will be sadly missed by Bonnie, Robbie, Tibbs, Prince Paris, Sebastian and Princess.

The family will receive friends at MARTYN FUNERAL HOME, Saturday, July 15 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service to celebrate Cecil's life will be held at St. Andrew's United Church, Thursday, August 31, 2006 at 2 p.m. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the St. Andrew's United Church General Fund would be gratefully appreciated.