Henry Maford Cobb's Obituary
Henry Maford Cobb, age 95, was born January 1, 1923, in Cape Girardeau, MO, and passed away on January 10, 2018 in Hayward, California. Henry, known by all as Hank, was preceded in death by his wife Marie in July, 1993. Henry is survived by his only child, a loving daughter Rita Fesler and son-in-law Roy Fesler, one grandson Robert Allen Fesler and one granddaughter Reanna Marie Fesler, all of Union City, CA. Born to Lee and Emma Cobb, Henry was preceded in death by all of his siblings: John Cobb, Goldie Lee, Rachel Ford-Meyer, Lee Cobb, Jr., George Cobb, Joan Quimette, and Bill Cobb. Henry served in the United States Marines during World War II, and while there he was a heavy duty truck driver. When he returned to the States he had a few different jobs, but the love of truck driving became his calling. His 50 year career covered driving long haul across the United States. He joined the Teamsters and worked in the Central State of Missouri and Western State of California. He met and married Marie Catherine Gore on October 1, 1947. They wanted nothing more than to have a family. It wasn’t until February 24, 1958 when they got that wish with their beautiful baby girl, born in Oakland. Henry and Marie moved many times from California to Missouri and back. After a short move to St. Louis, they came back to Hayward in 1966, bought a home in Union City in 1968, and Henry drove for Yellow Freight. In 1973 Henry was forced to move his family to Barstow, CA due to Yellow Freight’s Change of Operation. Again in 1977, Yellow Freight took Henry’s family to Jackson, Mississippi. Rita and Roy married in 1978 and moved back to Hayward in 1979. Henry retired from the Teamsters two months later, and returned to California for the final time. Henry started working with his daughter at Tri-J Trucking. He was the Nightly Turn Driver, meeting a driver from Los Angeles half-way and switching trailers. He did this for many years. Finally, after sitting in the waiting room for two days and a night it happened. Henry and Marie’s greatest joy, their grandson Robert, on December 28, 1984, was born. Robert was the light of their life and the son Henry never had. Henry decided to fully retire, and by 1990 he and Marie had bought a double wide mobile home in a park along the river in Manteca, where they fished, Henry golfed, and they enjoyed going back and forth between their daughter’s house, playing cards, and going to the casinos. Marie died in 1993. Henry was her constant caregiver. Six months later Henry became a grandfather again with the birth of his granddaughter Reanna Marie on January 10, 1994. Being a grandfather, or Papa, as he was called, was his favorite roll. Henry and Rita became very close after Marie’s death. Henry battled skin cancer late in life and had to have a pace-maker installed in the 80’s. He loved being around family and enjoyed a good poker game or 31. He could always be heard saying “Deal” as he entered the gathering. Henry was a jokester. If he joked with you, you knew he liked you. Henry left an impression on everyone who met him. He was loved by all and will be missed.
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