Maj. John W. Dobbins, USAF, Ret., 76

SMYRNA - John Wilson Dobbins, of Smyrna, formerly of Dover, died Feb. 25, 2009, at Bayhealth Medical Center, Dover. He was 76. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., he was the son of the late Fletcher H. and Helvetia Pujol Dobbins. Mr. Dobbins graduated from El Monte High School and in 1950 entered the U.S. Air Force. He later graduated from Delaware State College where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree and received his Masters Degree from Washington College. As an enlisted man in the U.S. Air Force he served as a Radar Technician and reached the rank of Master Sgt. He attended Officers Candidate School and eventually served as a Navigator Bombardier. He had served as Ground Training Officer and Commander of the Transportation Squadron at Dover Air Force Base. He was a veteran of both Korea and Vietnam Wars and retired from service in 1971. Upon retirement from the Air Force he served as a teacher of English at the Lake Forest High School from 1975 - 1980 and Wilmington College (University) 1980 until 1996 and was an Adjunct Teacher of English at Wesley College. He was a life member of the Military Officers Association, The Del-Vets and the Dover Air Base Museum. He was a Founding Member of the American Air Museum of Great Britain and a member of the Irish Society. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Geraldine Shipley. John enjoyed travel, golf and boating and will be remembered by his close friends as a 'real party boy' who truly enjoyed people. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sandra Hamsher Dobbins of Smyrna; his son, Michael Dobbins and wife Eve of Tampa, Fla.; two sisters, Vicki Lewis of Fall Brook, Calif., and Patti Carter of Whidby Island, Wash.; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, along with six nephews and one niece. Services will be 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, in Christ Episcopal Church State and Water streets, Dover. Burial will take place in Christ Church Cemetery. The family suggests donations in his memory to Delaware Hospice 911 S. DuPont Hwy. Dover, DE 19901; or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research, Church St. Station, P.O. Box 700, New York, NY 10008-0780. Arrangements are by Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Director, Inc., Dover.