Thomas Ray Bobbitt

Thomas Ray Bobbitt, a much loved and celebrated citizen of the Town of Independence passed away on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the Wake Forest Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Born on October 24, 1944, to Thomas Walker and Stella Owens Bobbitt, Ray grew up in the area leaving home to serve in the United States Army from 1964-1965. He retired from furniture factory assembly and assisted with Walters Burial Vaults for many years until the business was sold. Ray was a dutiful son who maintained a close relationship to his aged mother. He saw to her needs until her death. Ray never met a stranger. His colorful disposition and his imaginative wit made him a favorite personality around the town. Ray never faced a situation or event where he failed to have a joke, story, or anecdote, to embellish or enhance the occurrence. When meeting a person for the first time he would often say, “I fell in love with my third-grade teacher, but she was too old for me, I was 23 and she was 26.” The list of Ray Bobbitt comebacks, jokes, and tales, remains endless. Most every person in the town of Independence has an assortment of Ray Bobbitt stories. In recent years he was a welcomed daily visitor at the Quick Check where he made sure everybody was made to feel welcomed to the town that he loved. Friends and strangers alike were equally greeted with a smile and got a “dose of Ray” whether one wanted it or not. Our town has been greatly diminished with the passing of Ray, but his enduring personality continues to warm our hearts with each remembrance of him.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Ann Snow Bobbitt and his brother, Charles Bobbitt. 

He is survived by one daughter, Lori Bobbitt and Richard Webb of Mt. Airy, NC; one son, Thomas Keith and Belinda Bobbitt of North Carolina; three step-daughters, Amy Hodge and Dawn Hodge all of North Carolina and Shelia Hodge of Virginia; one step-son, Mike Hodge of Virginia; two sisters, Katherine Burnsed and Bonnie Brown both of Virginia; a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Memorial services will be conducted on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home Chapel with David VanHoy officiating. Military Honors will be performed by Grayson County VFW Post # 7726. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Private Inurnment will take place at a later date at the Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Independence, VA.

The family suggest that in lieu of flowers, memorial contribution be made to the Grayson County VFW Post #7726 P. O. Box 308 Independence, VA 24348.