of Searcy, AR
January 9, 1947 - March 3, 2025
Kenneth Lester Hobby, age 78, of Searcy passed away on March 3, 2025. Although Ken was born in Searcy, AR, he grew up as part of a missionary family in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. While a student at Harding College, he met Ann Adair and they were married on August 20, 1967. Ken and Ann enjoyed over 57 years together.
Ken held a Ph.D. in psychology and along with other clinical work, he was a professor at Harding University for 30 years. He was a member and deacon at College Church of Christ, enjoyed being outdoors and camping and took great pleasure in giving gifts to his friends and loved ones. Ken was a great example of generosity and Christian faithfulness to his family.
For the last 20 years of his life, Ken devoted his time, efforts and resources to mission work in Zambia. He passionately contributed to and secured funding for the Alvin and Georgia Hobby Scholarship, which provides Zambian students with higher education, vocational training and evangelism training. Graduates of this program are prepared to start churches in areas of Zambia where the gospel has not been preached before. Ken worked endlessly to ensure funding for transportation for missionaries, roofs for church buildings, Bibles, song books and countless other resources. His many fund-raising efforts and collaborations with churches, individuals and entities such as the Don Lawrence Trust, will continue to provide necessary support for this ongoing work for many years to come. Since 2021, Ken served as the trust advisor for the Don Lawrence trust, directing funding to Zambian Missions, World Bible School, Gospel Chariot Missions and other gospel-spreading programs.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Georgia and his brothers, Paul, George and David. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Ann; a sister, Anita Mitchell (Dennis); four children, Anessa Westbrook (Tim), Jared Hobby (Charissa), Tianna Tripp (Kevin), Gerren Hobby (Jess) and ten grandchildren, Alina Stout (Blake), Anna Yingling (Derek), Theo Westbrook, Braden Hobby, Cullen Hobby, Brinley Hobby, Carly Hobby, Katie Tripp, Alexander Hobby and Bennett Hobby.
Donations can be made in Ken's memory to the Alvin and Georgia Hobby Scholarship fund: https://abundant.co/collegechurch/websitegiving
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7 Condolence(s)
Jeff Montgomery
Friday, March 14, 2025
I had Dr. Hobby for many classes as I was a psychology major. First time I met him he invited us to his Home Bible Study. Julie and I attended until we graduated. What a blessing those Wednesday nights were to a young married couple. My first day as an employee at HU Dr. Hobby and Dr. Thomas came over to welcome me to the working side of Harding and I remember being so honored and so embarrassed because they were looking with awe at my super nice office in the Heritage Building while they were still suffering in the Hawkins Clinic. He was a wonderful teacher and friend.
Melinda Chibb
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Dear Ann and family….. we are sad yet rejoicing with your family knowing that Ken got to go home. May God bless all of you as you adjust to your new earthly life without him but knowing you will share a home in heaven. I have so many wonderful memories of you guys from when we were all kids….raising kids! My favorite has to be the trash can and the big bear noise! May God hold you all close sending prayers love and big hugs. Kirk and Mindy Chubb
Nancy OBrien
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Wonderful man from a wonderful family. Such a quiet and humble giver. I was blessed to know him and am continually blessed to know his family.
Samuel Shewmaker
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Ken Hobby and I grew up together as missionary kids at Namwianga Mission in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). We both attended Harding College in the 1960s. In the summer of 1963 we worked on a farm in Oklahoma to earn enough funds to attend college the next year. All his life Ken was a Kingdom-oriented leader who worked to proclaim the good news about Jesus to those who did not know him.
June Tripp
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Sorry to learn of your loss. May our Father's love give you comfort and peace.
Alina Stout
Saturday, March 8, 2025
As a kid, I loved listening to Grandad’s stories of growing up in Africa. I dreamed of being a missionary one day overseas like his family. But as an adult, I started listening to more of his stateside stories from his adulthood. I realized that he had been a missionary all along no matter where he was planted. Grandad made sure I could do the same by supporting my different efforts and ideas. He has helped my husband and me in large and small ways: buying me a tea set so that I could host women’s events, making my 6-year refugee ministry possible, giving us supplies for church camping trips, and constantly challenging us with new ideas and perspectives. When I talked with him, I felt like I was giving a mission report to a mission advisor placed in my life by God.
Paul and Jan Morgan
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Ken, spent many hours helping me with my statistics for my dissertation! I was so grateful!
Jan Morgan