Lydia Gardner Hoskins

Lydia Hoskins, 89, of Kingsport went home to be with the Lord Friday, February 13, 2015 at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center following a period of declining health.

Born in Mitchell County, NC on March 3, 1925, a daughter of the late Dee "Doc" and Salley Forbes Gardner, she has resided in this area most of her life.

She faithfully attended Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and the ladies Sunday School Class. Lydia worked for many years as an Optical Lab Technician for Bausch & Lomb Optical and was later co-owner of Gateway Optical.

Lydia will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother and friend who loved her family and enjoyed archery with her husband and her Sunday School class.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to The Wexford House.

In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Wallace Troy Hoskins; brothers: Dee Gardner, Jr., Jack Gardner, Charles Gardner and Garfield Gardner; sisters: Dona Gardner, Mary Hightower, Grace Murray, Hassie Collins and twin sisters, Bessie Murray and Daisy Laney.

Lydia is survived by her daughter: Lisa H. Reynolds and son-in-law: James W. Reynolds; many nieces and nephews whom she greatly loved; and a special niece Betty English.

The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. in the chapel with Dr. Cecil Sturgill officiating.

Graveside services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday, February 22, 2015 at East Lawn Memorial Park.

Those attending committal services are asked to meet at the cemetery at 12:45 pm Saturday, February 22, 2015.

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