Dobbins, Rev. Dr. Gary H.

Rev. Dr. Gary H. Dobbins, 69, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Friday, Nov. 22, 2013, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Craig Peters. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, and at the church one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Adrienne; mother, Eva Catherine Dobbins of Keswick; children, Crystal (Brian) Allen, Sally (Jess) Bernhard, Tim Dobbins, and Matt (Beth) Dobbins; grandchildren, Ben, Rachel, Kaitlyn, Austin, Carsen, Ethan, Zachary, and Mason; and sister-in-law, Vonda Dobbins.

Gary was preceded in death by his father, Verne Dobbins; and brother, Ronald Dobbins.

Born May 9, 1944, in rural Keokuk County, Gary was the son of Verne and Eva (Hall) Dobbins. In 1962, he graduated from English Valleys High School. He attended the University of Iowa, Garrett Evangelical Seminary and Louisiana Bible College, earning his doctorate. On Feb. 14, 1964, he was united in marriage to Adrienne Hornbeck on his parents' farm.

Gary served United Methodist churches at Ladora, Kosta, Ohio, Olin St. Paul, Morley, Forest Chapel, Moravia Grace, Sigourney, Monona, Garden City, Giard and Sharon United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, retiring in 2007.

Some of Gary's joys were directing the Living Last Supper, auctioneering, raising horses, and officiating football, baseball and basketball. He was an author, magician, pilot, artist, ventriloquist and volunteer firefighter. His favorite was playing bass guitar at St. Mark's in the contemporary band.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Gary's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Gary at under obituaries.

Published Nov. 25, 2013, in The Gazette