Virl Hobson

October 24, 2024

Virl Hobson, 98, of Norris, passed away peacefully on Oct. 24, 2024. A funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at Holley-Gamble Funeral Home, with visitation beginning at 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens.

Virl was the third of seven children born to C.M. and Elizabeth Johnson in Loudon, Tennessee. Growing up during the Great Depression forged a strong sense of resilience, adaptability, faith, and humor in her family, traits that defined Virl throughout her life. Following her high school graduation during World War II, Virl joined Tennessee Eastman as a calutron operator supporting the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge. She appears in Ed Westcott’s iconic photograph of the “Calutron Girls,” seated at a cubicle in the lower-left corner. After the war, she attended Draughon’s Business College and returned to Y-12, working in the purchasing department.

While living in Oak Ridge, she met and married Jack Hobson. They moved to Norris in 1955, welcomed two daughters, and Virl became a full-time homemaker until Jack’s untimely death in 1964. She then drew on her inner strength as a young widow and single mother, soon returning to a secretarial position at K-25, from where she retired with 30 years of service.

In retirement, Virl took on the role of devoted grandmother, honing adaptability and her sense of humor as she shepherded her grandchildren to church, provided after-school care, and for many years hosted family holiday and birthday gatherings.

Her resilience, adaptability, faith, and humor shone brightly as she faced the challenges of aging, remaining gracious and cheerful through Alzheimer’s, her ready smile and whispered “thank you” a lasting legacy for her family and caregivers.

In addition to her parents and husband, Virl was preceded in death by her brothers G. Benton Johnson and Jim Johnson; sisters Thelma Alexson, Mary Annis Arnwine, and Faye Conover. She is survived by her sister, Pat Green; daughters Karen Angel (Richard) and Melinda Beach (Chuck); grandchildren Alicia Bell (Brad), Kari Heuer (Mike), Joseph Angel (Miriam), Melissa Gerard (Lou), and Brooke Johnson (David); 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-granddaughters.

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, Norris, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Virl’s family extends heartfelt gratitude for the loving care provided by The Lantern at Morning Pointe and Gentiva.