William ‘Bill’ Martigay Dobbs, Jr.
November 16, 1930 – November 16, 2021

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William ‘Bill’ Martigay Dobbs, Jr.
William ‘Bill’ Martigay Dobbs, Jr.

Bill passed away peacefully on his 91st Birthday, surrounded by his family. He has left his earthly home through the Gates of Heaven to be with his wife, Jane. He was born in Omaha Nebraska, November 16, 1930, and spent most of his childhood in Huntsville, TN.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Brown Dobbs; parents, William Martigay Dobbs and Elie Sexton Dobbs; his son, William Lynn Dobbs (Bill); sisters, Marye Wiebeck (Al), and Cecilia Hobgood (Gordon); and brother, Mack Dobbs.

He is survived by sons, Peter Dobbs (Mary Beth), and Andy Dobbs (Marti); daughter, Kathy Dobbs Holt; daughter-in-law, Vicki Dobbs; sister, Marie Woltersdorf (RC); nine grandchildren, Allison Brinkley, Lauren Dobbs, Bill Holt (Katy), Rachel Wolsefer (Freddy), Pete Dobbs (Lauren), Jake Dobbs, Jonathan Dobbs (Ryane), Eric Dobbs (Emily), and Amy Dobbs; nine great-grandchildren; Bailey, Bryson, Ben, Will, Rhys, Weston, Ellie, Mila, and Maddie; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.

Bill married Jane Brown on May 26,1951 and they were married for 63 years before her passing in 2014. He loved Jane dearly and spoke fondly of her every day saying how much he missed her.

Bill inspired his children to explore and learn about the world around them through hiking, hunting mushrooms, rocks, fossils, studying the weather, space, photography, and in his later years – nutrition. Magnesium was often a part of any conversation with him.

He served in the United States Air Force 1948-1952, where he taught electronics. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in Electrical Engineering.

He moved his family to Huntsville, AL and was employed by the Army at Redstone Arsenal as an Engineer. He worked for the U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM) and the Army’s Missile Intelligence Agency (MIA), which later became the Defense Intelligence Agency, Missile and Space Intelligence Center (DIA/MSIC). He retired in 1985 to spend more time with his wife and family.

Visitation will be from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens (https://hsvbg.org/tribute-memorial-gifts/).