Recent Staunton retiree Dale Hobson is already set for a killer 63rd birthday.
Hobson, who retired from Columbia Gas after 42 years with the company in its Staunton office, has been named the grand marshal of the 2024 Staunton Christmas Parade.
The Monday, Dec. 2, parade will begin at 7 p.m. in the streets of Downtown Staunton.
The parade sponsor is NiSource Charitable Foundation, and Santa’s sleigh is sponsored by McKee Foods.
Hobson was born in Waynesboro on Dec. 2, 1961, and graduated from Waynesboro High School. He retired from the Virginia Army National Guard as a first sergeant after a more than 20-year service career.
He held many positions in his lengthy career at Columbia Gas, including street service, welder, service tech, contractor inspector, construction specialist, construction leader and on-the-job training coach. He is also an ordained deacon at Oak Grove Baptist Restoration Ministries as well as being the current church administrator.
Hobson has been an active member of the Staunton Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association for 24 years, and was an original appointed member of the very first Waynesboro Youth Commission in 1978.
Hobson has been married to his wife, Lucinda, for 43 years, and is the father of five adult children and four granddaughters. His daughter, Ivy Williams, is a utility clerk at Columbia Gas in Staunton.
“The Lord has allowed me to also have a heart to support and serve those less fortunate than I by serving as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, supporting Valley Mission, River City Breadbasket and RISE,” Hobson said.
Share
Chris Graham
