Anne Hobba

Florence Anne Martin Hobba (Anne), predeceased by father Thomas F. Martin, mother Fannie Clay Martin, sisters Fannie Halsey and Mary E. Bell and husband Robert L. Hobba (Bob), died peacefully at the age of 89 in her home in Urbana, Maryland on August 4, 2015.. Anne was born on February 14, 1926 in Coeburn, Virginia. Married to Bob since 1950, Mother of Chastain Hobba Knapp, married to Richard Knapp of Ontario, Canada, Robert L. Hobba Jr. of Frederick and Fannie Hobba Shenk of Chestertown, and Grandmother to Teagan Knapp, Taylor Anne Knapp, Chastain Anne Shenk and Madison Shenk.

While employed by the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., Anne met and married Bob. They immediately moved west to Zigzag, Oregon, where she helped him build their first house; there she lived with her first-born in the woods with a view of Mt. Hood. Bob’s work brought them back to D.C. in 1957 and Anne became a general contractor while she and Bob built their brick house atop a hill facing Sugarloaf Mountain. They moved into the house in 1962 and raised their three children. Sixteen years later, Anne took refresher secretarial courses at Frederick Community College and went back to work, enjoying serving the community as secretary for the City of Frederick in the Department of Engineering and the Office of Mayor Ron Young from 1978 to 1998.

A devoted mother, wife and grandmother, Anne was always supportive, enthusiastic and energetic in any endeavor encountered. She was an accomplished hostess, cook, homemaker, artist, life-long student and best friend to all of her children, granddaughters and many others. Anne had many interests and skills and lived life fully, independently and with love from her community. Anne greatly enjoyed watercolor workshops, a weekly art gathering she held at her house, tai chi, book club, new recipes and acquiring the perfect tool for the task at hand. If you would like to commemorate Anne Hobba, a donation can be made to the Mental Health Association of Frederick County.