He was born Feb. 12, 1931, the son of Mary Thomas Hobbs and Dr. S. Huntington Hobbs Jr. of Chapel Hill.

Hobbs graduated from UNC in 1953 and was also a 1969 graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. After graduation from UNC, he began a long and distinguished career in banking, ultimately retiring in 1996 as executive vice president and corporate secretary of Centura Banks Inc. in Rocky Mount. He also served as a director of Vail Banks, Inc. of Avon, Colo.

Mr. Hobbs is survived by his loving family: wife Elizabeth Deane Haw Hobbs; son Robert Branson Hobbs Jr., his wife Laura T. Hobbs and daughter Anna Branson Hobbs of Southern Shores, N.C; and son William T. Hobbs II, his wife Elizabeth G. Hobbs and children William T. Hobbs III, Elizabeth S.B. Hobbs, H. Huntington Hobbs and Samuel M. Hobbs of Charlotte.

He is predeceased by two brothers: S. Huntington Hobbs III of Mexico City, Mexico, and William T. Hobbs of Chapel Hill.

A funeral service was held Friday, Aug. 8, 2008, at the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill. Interment followed at the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the S. Huntington Hobbs Jr. Endowment for Faculty Excellence at UNC in care of the Arts and Sciences Foundation, 134 E. Franklin St., CB 6115, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.