Roberta "Bobbie" Inman Hamby

On Monday, April 29, 2019, Roberta Inman Hamby, aka Bobbie, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away at the age of 91. 

Bobbie was born on Monday, June 11, 1927, in Battle Creek, Michigan, to the late Martin and Lois Inman. She grew up in Knoxville, TN and graduated from Knoxville High School, where she was an active thespian. She then attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where she received a bachelor’s degree in home economics. She was an active member of the Smokey Mountain Hiking Club both in college and in high school. She was also a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild since 1951. After college Bobbie, took a job as a home demonstration agent in Cocke County, TN. While on the job, she met her future husband, Clarence David Hamby in 1953, and they were married at St John's Lutheran Church on June 14, 1956. 

Upon their marriage, Bobbie and Clarence moved to Sullivan County, TN. She was the first field director in Kingsport for the Appalachian Girls Scout Council, when first organized. After the birth of her first child, she became a stay at home mom to her three kids: David, Barbara, and Gloria. She would take them swimming, camping, and make them amazing meals. She was known for her great cooking ability, but especially her Molasses cookies. Once her children were grown, she went back to work and retired from the Tennessee Department of Employment Security in 1997.

Bobbie had a passion for spending time with not only her children, but also her grandchildren as well. She first became a grandmother in 1984, where she instantly became invested in her grandkids’ lives. She continued to be invested in all of her grandchildren's life. She would attend soccer games, cross country meets, and theatre shows. She always loved playing cards and board games alike with them such as Flinch, Parchessi, or Life. She loved having them stay with her for weeks during the summer and would cook them the best meals, starting with a full course breakfast the minute they walked down the stairs. She would sit on the swing of her front porch and read books aloud to her grandchildren and help them learn to read. One of her favorite books was The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle, which she read to both her children and grandchildren. Bobbie was also extremely fond of animals and in her life time she had five dogs and seven cats. Bobbie was an active member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for over 60 years. 

Bobbie was preceded in death by her father and mother, Martin and Lois Inman, and her husband Clarence Hamby, retired Major of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. 

She is survived by her three children, David (Teri) Hamby, Barbara (Eric) Ecklund, and Gloria (Mark) Rawlston; her eight grandchildren, Jacob (Casey) Hamby, Zack Hamby, Nicole (Brent) Lewis, Rebecca Hamby, Ginny (Drew) Hall, Leslie Ecklund, Aaron Hamby, and Sallie Rawlston; and her four great-granddaughters Lily Hamby, Iris Hamby, Charlee Lewis and Ella Hall. 

The visitation will be held from 1-2:00 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm with Pastor James Bangle officiating. Burial will follow in East Tennessee Cemetery. 

Active pallbearers are Aaron Hamby, Jacob Hamby, Zack Hamby, Mark Rawlston, Drew Hall, and Brent Lewis. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 800 Broad Street, Kingsport, TN 37660.