Linda Diane Hobby-Babcock, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, pastor and friend, passed away in the arms of her beloved husband of three years, Pastor Wayne Babcock. After a short battle with stage 4 lung cancer and a few radiation treatments, Pastor Linda went home to be with the Lord on April 15, 2021.
Linda was always a giver and an advocate for many in need. She spent most of her life helping others in any way she possibly could. Linda had lived a very wonderful and colorful life full of family and friends. She also had many brothers and sisters in faith, all of whom she loved greatly.
Linda Diane Hobby-Babcock was born on June 8, 1950, to her parents Bill and Lillian Keim in Bellingham, Washington. In 1967, Linda married Dennis (Smokey) Casteel and soon to follow were two children, Kimberly Casteel born in 1967 and then Billy Casteel born in 1968. A few years later, Linda remarried to Steven Hammond, and they had a son together as well, Jeremy Hammond born in 1972.
As time went on, Linda remarried once again in 1979 for a third time to a kind and loving man, Mike Hobby. Mike brought with him and into our family his two sons, Michael and Chad Hobby, then we became a family of seven. Linda always had a love for a good romance book, riding Harleys and usually both at the same time. Later in the years, after her son Billy lost his life tragically to a suicide, Mike and Linda found comfort with the learning and the teaching of Christianity and decided to dedicate their lives to the Lord and help others — which they did and loved doing so.
As the years went by and the children had mostly grown and started their own lives, Linda later went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and became a Pastor of the Isaiah 58 Project of Arizona in Quartzsite, Arizona, along with her husband, Pastor Mike Hobby, at that time. This is where they both found great joy in helping others in need. Mike and Linda had 36 wonderful years together until Mike had passed away after a stroke on Father’s Day, 2016.
Soon after, she returned to continue with her work at the Church of Isaiah 58 Project of Arizona. After the passing of our dad and her third husband Pastor Mike Hobby, our Mom, Pastor Linda ,was truly blessed to find another great love just one more time in her life with Pastor Wayne Babcock. And with her marriage to Wayne, she also gained even more wonderful (adult) children, grandchildren and more great-grandchildren to add to our family as well.
She was very blessed and much loved. Pastor Linda, mother and friend to so many, we will all miss her so very much. Linda will be remembered as a woman who was a follower of Jesus and always willing to sacrifice for her fellow men and women. Pastor Linda Hobby-Babcock is survived by her husband Pastor Wayne Babcock; brother David (Nyla) Keim; Linda’s children, Kim (Tim), Jeremy, Michael (Angie), Chad (Christy); Linda’s grandchildren, Tera, Dustin, Christina, Zac, Sara, and Mallory; Linda’s great-grandchildren, Katelyn and Casey, Addi and Piper; Pastor Wayne Babcock’s children, Brian, John, James, Rayla, their children and grandchildren. Linda has 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Linda was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Lillian Keim, brother Greg, her son Billy and her late husband of 36 years Pastor Mike Hobby.
Please continue to support the ministry of the Isaiah 58 project of Arizona. Consider sending a donation to: Isaiah 58 Project of AZ, P.O. Box 1713, Quartzsite, AZ 85346; www.isaiah58project.info; (928) 924-3124. A celebration of life will be held at the Church on the Rise, 1 Twin Lakes Road, Winthrop, on Saturday, June 5, at 3 p.m., and will be followed by a potluck.
