Franklin Hobart

Franklin Russell Hobart 1924-2019. Franklin Russell Hobart was born in Boston, MA on June 11, 1925 in Boston Hospital Grew up in Newton Mass. He was in scouts before 8th grade in Boston. Graduated high school and enlisted in the Navy after Pearl Harbor. He flew in a PB4-Y Privateer for the Navy in WWII, and was responsible for jamming Japanese radar. He served for over 2 and 1/2 years, then was honorably discharged. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, the American Pacific Area Medal, and the Asiatic Area Medal. Upon his discharge, he worked as an electrician for awhile in Boston. Shortly after, he moved to Houston and got a job at the Little Theater as a lighting technician. It was here that he met my mother, who had a role in a play there. They were married on January 12, 1952 and later that year, their first born son Shelby was born. Kevin was born two years later. Russ then began his career as a draftsman, his main job during the 50s at the Lummus Company. He also volunteered as a Boy Scout leader. Sacred Heart church asked him to lead the scouts. He worked after that for the Boy Scouts in public relations. Then he joined the troop at St. Michael's Catholic church where his sons attended, as an assistant leader. He got a job with Mosher Steel in Houston and eventually moved into sales. In 1964, while working with Boy Scout troop #509 at St. Michaels, Russ made the acquaintance of Woods Martin. Woods offered Russ a job as a general manager at Autocator Controls, a division of TF Hudgins, a company that developed pneumatic controls for offshore drilling platforms. He worked there into the mid-70s, then branched out on his own as a computer programmer and salesman. He loved cars, trains, fine wine, dogs, genealogy, lighting and electrical circuitry, the Boy Scouts, and liberal ideology. He was an active member in the Northwest Crossing Train Club for 7 years. Russ is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Vivien, and two sons, Shelby and Kevin, daughter in law Debby, grandchildren Jennifer and Matthew, and a great-grandchild, Vivaan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Houston Humane Society.