Dorothy Helen "Teacher" Hobson of Wichita, Kansas, passed after a brief illness while at her home on August 1, 2013 at age 104. Teacher was born Dorothy Helen Asbury in Horton, Kansas on October 11, 1908. She was the oldest of four children born to William Jackson Asbury and Adda Adella Forkner originally of Concordia, Kansas. Teacher was a graduate of Highland College and Emporia State University. She was the owner of Hobson's Little School for 45 years until retirement in 1999. She is survived by her son and daughter in law, Bill and Pat Shelton of Arlington, TX; granddaughters Kimberly Shelton Alsbrooks (Richard) of Heath, TX; Angela Shelton, Arlington, TX; and, Meleesa Short Follin (Gary) of Wichita; great grandchildren, Cameron, Kennedy, Carson and Connor Alsbrooks; and, Allison, Levi and Angela Follin; sister in law, Shirley Hobson, of Wichita. There are also many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Hobson of Wichita; and, daughter, DeAun Shelton Short, Wichita; sisters Edna Reeves, Concordia, KS, and Ruth Parker, Houston, TX; and brother, Bill "Claude" Asbury, Houston, TX. She was also preceded in death by three grandsons, John, Matt and Sam Short, of Wichita.
Teacher is remembered by many parents and former students who comprised several generations of people associated with Hobson's Little School in the College Hill area of Wichita. She was a founding member of the Wichita Pre-school Association and was honored by that group. She also worked with members of the faculty of the School of Education at Wichita State University in the formation of a pre-school curriculum.
Teacher was born into a farm family and lived on the farm until graduating from Concordia High School and leaving to attend the first college established in Kansas, Highland College. She then attended and graduated from what is now Emporia State University.
Few people had the span of experiences as did she. As a small child, the adult men around her were Civil war and Spanish American war veterans. She was born before WW I and at a time when electricity was just being installed in homes and farms; horses were much more common than autos; and, airplanes had just arrived. Her life spanned many wars, the great depression and the computer age. She learned to drive as a young teen, and drove until age 18 when the state began to require driver's licenses. She never bothered to obtain one. Although, later she owned vehicles used by Hobson's Little School.
She taught school in Concordia and later married Alfred Shelton of Wichita who was an aircraft worker during WW II at Cessna. But divorce followed the birth of son Bill, and she struggled as a single parent with two children. She later married Harry Hobson who encouraged her to open her own pre-school in 1955. Working together, Hobson's Little School became a preferred place and there was always a waiting list for enrollment.
Teacher had a love for travel and new experiences. She traveled in Europe, the UK and the Far East. She took a glider lesson when she was 80. And for her 100th birthday, she celebrated by riding with a friend on his Harley motorcycle.
She was a strong Christian woman who loved God and studied the Bible. She always gave the glory to Him and trusted Him to provide and guide. She was proud of her maiden name of Asbury, and although Francis Asbury, the first Methodist bishop in America never had children, Teacher claimed to be a descendant of his parents in England.
Internment of ashes will be in section A of Old Mission Cemetery in Wichita.
A service of celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 12 at the East Heights United Methodist Church in Wichita .
Donations in lieu of flowers are requested to be made to Amedisys Hospice, 250 W. Douglas Ave., Ste. 101, Wichita, KS 67202 to recognize the wonderful and loving service that was provided to Teacher. Of course, in recognition of Teacher's life work in teaching pre-school children to read, donations of children's books can be made to your local library.