Joseph Franklin “Joe” Dobbs, 83 of Franklin, met his Savior face to face on Sunday, January 1st, 2017. Joe was born on August 11, 1933 in Bethpage, Tennessee to Redmond Franklin Dobbs and Eva Mai (Moncrief) Dobbs.
He was a 1952 graduate of Portland High School in Portland, Tennessee, where he played football and basketball. He met Barbara Ann Cline of Westmoreland, Tennessee when they worked together in a shoe factory in Gallatin, Tennessee. They married on Christmas Day, 1952, and just celebrated 64 years of marriage. She survives.
Joe and Barbara moved from Tennessee to Indianapolis, Indiana for an employment opportunity with Chevrolet Truck and Bus. He soon accepted a job at the Colonial Baking Company delivering bread to local area stores. A grocer in Franklin, Indiana named Kenneth Brown offered him a job. Joe became the manager of Brown’s Regal Market and later bought the store. He also owned Joe’s Convenient Market in Franklin. He expanded the stores to Whiteland and Edinburgh, Indiana. The Franklin store burned in June, 1996. This was a tragic loss for the community and the family and well as a historic one for the town of Franklin. He then worked as a delivery driver for Tuchman’s Dry Cleaners and eventually enjoyed working at Timewaster’s Clock Shop in Greenwood, Indiana. He was able to sell, repair and collect clocks which became a fun hobby for him. The clock shop closed a few years ago and he completely retired at that time.
Joe enjoyed hunting, horses, his motorcycle, singing in his church choir, southern gospel music, country ham, clocks, his family, and his beloved dog, Rowdy Joe. He also served as treasurer at First Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Franklin, Indiana for many years as well as president of the Summer Gardens Home Owner’s Association for a term.
He is survived by his loving spouse, Barbara Ann (Cline) Dobbs of Franklin, Indiana, children Cynthia Ann (George) Schoolcraft of Noblesville, Indiana; Timothy Joseph Dobbs of Beech Grove, Indiana; Julie Lynn (Kevin) Stainbrook of Bargersville, Indiana; and David Bryan (Kim) Dobbs of Franklin Indiana. His grandchildren, Eric (Becky) Schoolcraft, Kristen (Tim) Craig, Erin Dobbs, Sara (Heather) Dobbs-Ekey, Nick Stainbrook, Brittany (Levi) Smythe, Joseph Dobbs and Morgan Dobbs all survive. Joe and Barbara have also been blessed with 13 beautiful great-grandchildren.
Please join the family and the Reverend Marion Glover in celebrating his life at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 South (Morton Street), Franklin, Indiana 46131. Calling hours are 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January 4th, 2017 at the mortuary, with a service to follow at 1:00 P.M. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information 317-738-0202.