Richard Allen Hobbs, a former railroad employee and Crete attorney, died Wednesday, Oct. 15. He was 75.

Hobbs died from injuries related to a fall.

He was born in Harvey, raised in Markham and had deep roots in Central and Southern Illinois, including Centralia, Royalton and Creal Springs. He graduated in 1968 from Bremen High School in Midlothian.

Hobbs was raised by his mother, Betty Atkinson, and his grandmother, Mary Ellen Gaylord, and lived a colorful childhood that included a man he loved as a grandfather, Robert Gaylord, whom the family called Pop. In his teen years, Hobbs reunited with his father, Lawrence Allen Hobbs of Richton Park, and the two remained close.

A railroad man by blood — Pop had worked the rails — Hobbs began his career with the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, and with a pitstop as a train master for Amtrak, worked his way up from switchman to director of labor relations after he received his law degree in the late 1980s.

After he left the IHB, Hobbs served as a criminal defense attorney, setting up his office in downtown Crete. He also taught law classes at Governors State University in University Park.

Hobbs retired in the early 2000s and dedicated his free time to exploring the woods with his beloved hunting dogs Maggie and Rip. He participated in local cowboy reenactments and was an avid gun collector and proud marksman. He was dedicated to his church, where he led study sessions and served on the governing board.

Hobbs is survived by his children from his first wife, Arlendale Hobbs of Monee, who died in 2020. His survivors are: Erika Hobbs (Andrew Krzak), Kristin Hobbs, Brett Hobbs and Lisa Westover (Casey Westover), as well as by six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who will be joined by twins in the spring. He is also survived by three half-brothers and a half-sister.

His wife of 30 years, Nancy Hobbs of Crete, died in 2020. His sister, Marilyn Allen of Hammond, Indiana, and his half-brother, Larry Hobbs of Eagle Grove, Iowa, preceded him in death.

Hobbs was loved and will be missed.

A service will be held for him at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 1, at Crete United Methodist Church at 1321 Main St., Crete, Illinois.

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