Obituary of Thomas Gordon Hubbard

Mr. Thomas Gordon Hubbard, age 91, of Ozark, died Friday evening, August 29, 2008, at his home following an extended illness. Funeral services will be 3:00 P. M. Sunday, August 31, 2008, from Ozark Baptist Church with Reverend Greg Aman and Reverend Bill Hix officiating. Interment will follow in Skipperville Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at Ozark Baptist Church from 1:00 P. M. Sunday until service time. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Kiwanis Club and the Friendship Sunday School Class from Ozark Baptist Church. Mr. Thomas Gordon Hubbard was born on January 25, 1917 in Albertville, Alabama on Sand Mountain. His parents were Thomas Coleman Hubbard of Sand Mountain and Helen Carr Gordon Hubbard of Columbia, Missouri. The Gordon family was one of the pioneer families of Boone County in Missouri. Mr. Hubbard received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn University. While at Auburn he was a soloist with the Auburn Glee Club. Mr. Hubbard came to Dale County as an agricultural agent with the extension service and through the years worked with thousands of 4-H Club members, won state awards and won several national awards. He retired in 1977. He was well known for his beautiful baritone voice. In addition to his role in the Auburn University Glee Club. He won the soloist award in the Chattahoochee Valley Singing Contest in 1937. Mr. Hubbard studied voice in New York City for one year shortly before he came to Dale County. Over the years he sang at hundreds of weddings, funerals, club meetings, and other social events. He was a soloist and member of the choir of the Ozark Baptist Church for over 65 years. He also served on various committees and had served as a deacon. During World War II he served as an executive officer (Lieutenant) with Battery C of the 991st Field Artillery Battalion, Company C. This battalion was nicknamed "The Bronx Boys" because so many of its members were from the New York area. He departed New York aboard the Queen Mary in January 1944. This battalion landed in Normandy and engaged in the first American artillery fire within Germany proper. He participated in combat campaigns against the German Army in Normandy, Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge) Northern France and Central Europe. He was seriously wounded in March of 1945 and was a POW for a short period of time. Among the military awards he received were: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, ETO Ribbon with four Bronze Service Stars, World War II Victory Medal, plus other medals from the French government. He left the service in late 1945 with the rank of Captain. Mr. Hubbard was an active member of the Ozark Kiwanis Club for many years and performed many activities and duties. He served as President of the Kiwanis Club in 1955-1956. He was also a past member of the Sons of the Revolution. Among his other awards and accomplishments were: 1956-State of Alabama 4-H Achievement Award, 1965-National Association of County Agents Distinguished Service Award, 1966-20th Century Club's Ozark Man of the Year Award. In addition to his parents, Mr. Hubbard was preceded in death by his sister, Virginia (James) Ford of Gadsden; a niece, Ann Ford Case of Jacksonville, Alabama; a nephew, Mike Parker of Dallas, Texas; a grandson, David Gordon Hubbard of Auburn; and his wife of 63 years, Maureen Roberts Hubbard of Skipperville, who died in February of 2007. He is survived by his five children, Martha "Martie" Nichols (Don) of Daleville, Helen Reeder (William) of Ozark, Thomas Gordon Hubbard, Jr. (Nancy) of Montgomery, George Roberts Hubbard (Monica) of Auburn, and Susan Kenny (Dave) of Ozark; eleven grandchildren, Ed Nichols (Dana), Laura Bowden (Dan), Scott Reeder (Christy), Melissa Windham (Jack), Keith Reeder, David Kenny, Lauren Vinson (Jeremy), Caroline Hubbard, Tripp Hubbard, Jennifer Daniels, and Patrick Hubbard (Crystal). In addition are nephews, nieces, and Service Information