Mr. James "Jim" L. Hobart

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Richard L. Hobart, Jr., and Helen Louis Jones Hobart. Jim is survived by his wife, Laura Hobart, his two step-daughters Tracy Rice and Sarah Peterson, and sister Molly Durr. Jim also leaves brother-in-law Paul Durr, son-in law Zach Rice, grandson Hank Rice, niece Loren-Marie Durr, and her husband Ryan Foss.

Jim was born in Osaka, Japan on June 2, 1954, and grew up in Powell, Tennessee, graduating from Powell High School in 1972. His career of over 50 years was in aviation, and included being an airline pilot, flight safety officer contributing to Congressional hearings regarding airline safety legislation, and as an independent air safety consultant for developing nations in Africa. Later in life he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal church at Grace in the Desert, Las Vegas, Nevada in 2018 and became an Episcopal priest in 2021. He and his wife Laura then moved to Prospect, KY where Jim worked for the FAA as an Aviation Safety Inspector. He continued his work in the church as a supply priest for the Diocese of Kentucky, serving mainly at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

A Celebration of Jim’s Life will be held on Monday, June 5, 2023, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 9616 Westport Rd., Louisville, KY 40241. Memorial service at 6:30 p.m. with a reception immediately following the service.

Inurnment will take place on June 9, 2023, at Berry Highlands Memorial Cemetery, Knoxville, TN.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS.org) or the American Cancer Society (cancer.org).