Barbara Carol King Dobbins

Beloved mother Barbara Carol King Dobbins passed away on March 1, 2019, from pulmonary cardiac arrest at the age of 65. She was born in Lee County Hospital in Opelika, Alabama, on May 16, 1953, to the late Lester and Peggy King.

Barbara is survived by her sons Gary Wheat, Jesse Dobbins, and Kristopher Dobbins, daughters Mary Dobbins Katterheinrich, and Ellen Dobbins, a daughter by love in Jessica Baugh, beloved grandchildren Paxton and Reid Dobbins, and Kendall Marie Dobbins. The oldest of five siblings, Barbara is also survived by her brothers Joseph and Travis King, and her sisters Nancy Capps and Leslie Smith.

Barbara graduated from Auburn High School and then Auburn University (with a Bachelor's Degree in English). At Auburn she met and was married to the late Gary Wheat Jr. and moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where they had their only child, Gary Wheat III. She taught high school English and got her MBA from Alabama A&M University. After a divorce from Mr. Wheat, Barbara and "Little Gary" lived on their own for four years; it was during this time that she began her decorated career as a Federal Civil Servant, first for the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal, and later for the U.S. Air Force at bases Maxwell and Gunter.

In 1985 she met and married her loving life partner, the late Troy Dobbins, and began a family with his children Kris, Mary, and Ellen. In 1991 Barbara and Troy had their only child, Jesse Dobbins. The three of them moved back to Auburn after Troy's retirement in 1996, where they lived, worked, and became active members of the community. She leaves behind a large group of work friends and nurses, whom she loved very much.

Visitation will be at Auburn United Methodist Church, Founder's Chapel, on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at noon followed by a 1:00pm funeral service officiated by Rev. Julie Hare and Rev. Charles Cummings. Burial will immediately follow at Auburn Memorial Park.

 In lieu of flowers, donations are respectfully requested to the Congregational Care work in the REACH program: 139 S Gay Street, Auburn, AL 36830.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directing.