Virginia “Bobbie” Lorraine DeLaney, surrounded by her family, peacefully passed from this world on January 20, 2023. At 73, she traded in her earthly body for her heavenly one and gained wings.

Bobbie was born on June 6, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, to Virginia “Ginny” Clare (Lucas) DeLaney and Joseph Lawrence DeLaney.

Considering the combined legacies of her parents and her life experiences, it’s no wonder she became such a dynamic force to those who knew and loved her.

She learned early on how to be tough. A fierce sibling rivalry taught her: “defend yourself or be defeated.” She often took on a motherly role to her younger siblings and bossing them around was her specialty.

At the tender age of 17, she married returning Vietnam veteran, Paul Allen Hinkle, at the U.S. Army’s Fort Belvoir, Virginia. One year later, she welcomed her son, Shane Allen Hinkle, and in less than another year, her daughter, Brigitte Lorraine van Pelt (Hinkle). Her experience of raising her siblings had prepared her well, and she was a natural at motherhood.

Bobbie was imbued with her mother’s wild sense of humor and freedom. Family legend has it that Ginny once flew a plane over her enemy’s house and got a good laugh out of dive-bombing it with toilet paper. Ginny was a pioneer in her own right, having served in the Women’s Army Corps as a “WAC.”

Bobbie carried this same spirit of fearless independence within and into her own travels.

Around age 30, she took off on a solo cross-country adventure to explore the United States. During this time, she camped, hiked, and even bathed in a stream. She was fascinated by the great outdoors, visiting the national parks, and documenting her journey through photos.

Once she set her mind to it, there wasn’t anything she couldn’t accomplish.

The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.

—Ayn Rand, Russian-American novelist, philosopher, and playwright

Just like her father, she retained extensive creative abilities, open-mindedness, and many interests alongside a deep thirst for knowledge. She was awarded a nursing scholarship to West Texas A&M University, where she made the President’s List multiple times. She also majored in journalism at Ohio’s Muskingum University and furthered her education through Virginia’s George Mason University.

Over the course of her life, she was a beautician, a model, a gifted seamstress, and a talented wordsmith. She penned volumes of poetry and was in the process of writing a book about her life. And her business cards boldly announced to many her plan to run for “Future President of the United States.”

She didn’t know the meaning of giving up and always found a way forward. She was an entrepreneur, having launched Bobbie’s Creative Corner, a sewing and creative writing business. She became Red Cross certified in babysitting and ran her own home daycare.

Bobbie was a woman who could easily have outlasted the apocalypse with her stash of canned goods, bottled water, and emergency supplies.

Her resilience had been tested by many unexpected trials, which made her always ready for anything that came her way. Some of the lessons had been harsh but had only served to strengthen her character.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. —Khalil Gibran

She was a free spirit, ahead of her time. She was also a wise counselor to many. Hardly any topic was off limits, and in conversation, she would usually succeed in making someone else be the first to blush.

No one who knew her well can ever forget her.

And ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. —Khalil Gibran

Bobbie is survived by her son, Shane A. (Jennifer) Hinkle, and daughter, Brigitte L. (Jeroen) van Pelt (Hinkle); 3 brothers: Jerry (Monica) Koonce, Danny Daniel, and Rick DeLaney; 5 sisters: Elizabeth DeLaney, Deborah (Dan) Brill, Rebecca (Dave) Seibel, Susie (Martin) Ramsey, and Susan Ellis; 4 grandchildren: Ana, Max, Presley, and Roxxi-Skye; nieces and nephews: Michael, Brandon, Tim, Heidi, Renno, Sasha, Nick, Doug, Jacinta, Sarah, Jarrod, Cindy, Christopher, Cassi, Cauble, Conrad, Cody, Keiara, Carrington, Marika, and Kadi; great-nieces and great-nephews: Connor, Mitchell, Haley, Ty, Quincy, Xavier, Javon, Josey, Wyatt, Danielle, Brittany, Josh, Justin, Jehrid, Kyleigh, Brendon, Aaron, Rebecca, Audrey, Andrew, Haley, Hannah, Maya, Addison, Charlie, Brooklyn, Andie, Gavin, Amelia, Jaycee, Jax, and Cain; and great-great-niece, Raeden.

A small memorial for close family was held on Saturday, January 21, 2023. Please check back for additional updates for any future memorial service.

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