Herbert Stobbe

Lifelong Wacoan Herbert (Roscoe) Stobbe died peacefully at home Sunday afternoon, August 10, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Waco at 500 Webster Avenue in the chapel with Dr. Matt Snowden officiating. The chapel is located on the Clay Street side of the church.

Burial with Military Honors will follow at Robinson Cemetery on E. Stegall Drive.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday at Oakcrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Boulevard.

Herbert was a first generation American. His parents emigrated from Germany into Galveston after World War I and settled in Waco. Upon graduation from Waco High, Herbert served in the United States Army as a Medic during WW II. After the war, Herbert attended Baylor University before beginning his 38 year career as an Engineer with the Waco Fire Department.

As a young boy, Herbert accepted Christ in his family church, a German mission located at 8th and Clay founded by First Baptist Church of Waco and named Central Baptist Church. When the church relocated to the west side of Waco, Herbert accepted a leadership role in the new building construction and served as deacon, choir member, and president of the men’s brotherhood. He married the love of his life La Delle Simons in 1952 and they shared 62 years together. They had one child, Jo Ellen Stobbe Roach of Waco.

In addition to his service as a fire fighter, Herbert was a Germania Insurance representative and President of the local Germania chapter for 20 years, and was involved in church and civic organizations. He was president of the Waco/Robinson Lodge of the Sons of Herman for 20 years.

Herbert was revered for his gourmet cooking skills, especially in the Fire Department, and could belt out a song in German to rival professional tenors. Coming full circle from the German mission church of his youth, Herbert was a member of First Baptist Church of Waco where he attended the Edwards Sunday school class and helped as song leader at the time of his passing.

Herbert was preceded in death by his parents, Ernst Stobbe, and Johanna Hass Stobbe, and his sister Elizabeth Stobbe Kiphen and bother in law Roy Kiphen.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, LaDelle Stobbe; daughter, Jo Ellen Stobbe Roach and husband, Marvin Roach, of Waco and grandchildren, Thomas Roach, Matthew Roach, and Nathan Roach, of Waco, Nephew Douglas (Butch) Kiphen and wife Debbie of Woodway, and nephew Louis (Rusty) Kiphen and wife Brenda of China Spring, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Thomas Roach, Matthew Roach, Nathan Roach, Scott Apperson, Louis (Rusty) Kiphen, and honorary pallbearer Douglas (Butch) Kiphen.

The family would like to express gratitude to Shari Apperson and the nurses at Providence Home Health Care and Providence Hospice, for their loving care during Herbert’s final years.