FRANKLIN
Joseph Franklin “Joe” Dobbs, 83, of Franklin, met his Savior face-to-face on Sunday, Jan. 1, 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 had just celebrated 64 years of marriage. She survives.
Joe and Barbara moved from Tennessee to Indianapolis, for an employment opportunity with Chevrolet Truck and Bus. He soon accepted a job at the Colonial Baking Co. delivering bread to local area stores.
A grocer in Franklin 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.
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. 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 served as treasurer at First Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Franklin 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; children, Cynthia Ann (George) Schoolcraft of Noblesville, Timothy Joseph Dobbs of Beech Grove, Julie Lynn (Kevin) Stainbrook of Bargersville and David Bryan (Kim) Dobbs of Franklin; and grandchildren, Eric (Becky) Schoolcraft, Kristen (Tim) Craig, Erin Dobbs, Sara (Heather) Dobbs-Ekey, Nick Stainbrook, Brittany (Levi) Smythe, Joseph Dobbs and Morgan Dobbs. Joe and Barbara were also blessed with 13 beautiful great-grandchildren.
Please join the family and the Rev. Marion Glover in celebrating his life at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 U.S. 31 South (Morton St.), Franklin. Calling hours are 10 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com.
Information: 317-738- 0202.
