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South Coffeyville - Private First Class Bill Freemont Hobbs, age 20, of South Coffeyville, Oklahoma passed away on November 30, 1950 near Chosin Reservoir North Korea.
Billy was born on January 15, 1930 to William Freemont Hobbs and Flora Jane (Crites) Hobbs in Pitcher, Oklahoma. He grew up in Commerce, Oklahoma, Coffeyville, Kansas and South Coffeyville, Oklahoma.
In 1948 he joined the Army with his friends, Gene Armstrong, Quinlen Jones and Lonnie Billups. With the war going on, Billy was sent to Korea to serve his country. He was assigned to Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. In 1950 while on a mission near Chosin Reservoir he was driving a heavy mortar ammunition truck when it was bombed, and the truck blew up taking his life. He was determined Missing in Action.
In 2018, President Donald J. Trump met with Democratic People's Republic of Korea Chairman Kim in a summit meeting in Singapore. As a result of that meeting, 55 boxes of American remains were accessioned to the United States for scientific analysis and possible identification. In box number 50, Billy's remains were found through DNA testing after missing for 68 years.
Surviving to honor Billy's memory are his brother Charles (Buck) Hobbs and sister Ruth (Weathers) Mehl.
Billy was preceded in death by his father, William Freemont Hobbs, mother Flora Jane (Crites) Kerns, brothers, Ted Hobbs, Jay Hobbs, Robert DeWulf, Albert Weathers, and Jack Weathers, sisters Alzada (Hobbs) McKnight, Lula (Hobbs) Delozier, Mary (Hobbs) Bishop, Ruby (DeWulf) Jackson, June (DeWulf) France, and Betty Jo DeWulf.
Billy will return home to Coffeyville where he will be laid to rest next to his mother. Funeral services honoring his life will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Veteran's Memorial Patio at Fairview Cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made payable to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital and they may be sent in care of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel 2405 Woodland Ave Coffeyville, KS 67337. To share a message of condolence, please visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com
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