Chuck Mobley

Charles Franklin “Chuck” Mobley, PhD.Ed., age 81 of Griffin, departed this life on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at his home after many months battling Pulmonary Fibrosis. He is joyfully remembered by his wife and travel partner of 24 years, Ginny Mobley; son, Trent Mobley (Denise) of Gainesville, GA; daughter, Julie Tippins of Griffin; stepchildren, Stacey Forsyth (Scott) and Matt Delarber (Jennifer) of Thomasville, GA; his beloved grandchildren called him Doc and he delighted in sharing his joys with them: nature, travel, the circus, picnics, his garden and tractor, bicycling, snow skiing, and Georgia football. They are Jenna M. Wilkerson (Rusty), Katherine E. Tippins, Lincoln Mobley, Jesse Mobley, Grace-Marie Knowlton, Dallas and Smith Forsyth, Logan and Matthew Delarber. He recently welcomed the next generation, Reese and Reagan Wilkerson. He is also survived by sister-in-law, Nancy W. Mobley, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Brenda and Tommy Wethington; nephews, Alan and Wade Mobley, David and Eric Dykes, Ric Roberts; niece, Valda R. Hampton, as well as numerous cousins and friends around the world. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Julian D. Mobley. Charles Mobley’s journey on this earth began in the close-knit Highland Mill Village. His late parents, J. Chester and Julia Rawls Mobley, reared him in that hard-working, loving community, only a bicycle ride from both his Mobley and Rawls grandparents, aunts and uncles. At the age of 9, he was thrilled to welcome a baby brother, Julian. He graduated from Spalding High School, attended Reinhardt College and graduated from Georgia Teachers College (Georgia Southern). After graduation, he was recruited to teach in Melbourne, Florida. But “Home” called strongly and he returned to Griffin as a science teacher at Spalding Jr. High. As he earned advanced degrees in Education at Vanderbilt University, Georgia State University and Nova University, he was promoted to principal at Sunnyside, then West Griffin and finally Beaverbrook Elementary. During his 18 years at Beaverbrook, he led the staff to win numerous awards and recognitions. He was a founding member of Future Stock, now Partners in Education, and an active representative in the Georgia Association of Educators and National Association of Elementary Principals. He also served as the Dean of Tift College’s Evening Division in Griffin. Chuck had a lifelong love of travel and believed Mark Twain’s observation that “Travel is fatal to prejudice and narrow-mindedness.” When his children were young, they spent many weeks during summer vacation traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada with their Scotty camper. After befriending 2 German men visiting this country, he visited them on his first trip to Europe in 1969. That friendship with Suitbert Kessler and his family is still strong today – he and Ginny traveled to Prague last spring to visit these friends. With that trip, they visited 42 countries together. He was a lifelong Methodist, beginning at Highland UMC, then Hampton UMC and Griffin First UMC; served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Occupation; was a 45 year member of the Kiwanis of Griffin. He was an Eagle Scout and proudly served on the Flint River Eagle Review Board until his final illness. His private pilot’s license allowed him to enjoy flying his small plane throughout the Southeast. He even survived a crash and continued to fly as long as his health allowed. We know that his laughter and lessons will live on. The Mobley family thanks all those who have been so supportive during these last months; Griffin First UMC, Love Circle, Eternal Hope Hospice and the best neighbor anyone could have, Mr. Pink Hunt. Visitation with the family will be on Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 4:00pm until 6:00pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. There will be an interment of ashes at First United Methodist Memorial Garden at 1:30pm on Sunday, January 12, 2014, followed by a memorial service in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church at 2:00pm. Dr. Med Roach will officiate. Members the Kiwanis Club of Griffin are requested to sit as a group. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1401 Maple Dr., Griffin, GA. 30224 or to Teacher Scholarships at Partners in Education, P.O. Drawer N., Griffin, GA 30224 in memory of Charles Mobley.

Chuck Mobley

December 15, 1932 - January 8, 2014