Jerry A. Dobbins

Jerry A. Dobbins, 86, passed away on January 24, 2022, at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. He was the husband of Gail A. (Gift) Dobbins. They were married for nearly 65 years.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Harry and Evelyn (Hetrich) Dobbins. Jerry graduated from Reading High School in 1953. He was employed at Polymer Corporation and owned Dobbins Auto Sales. He sold cars from 1957 to 2020; it was a lifetime passion of his. An even bigger passion was basketball and he was a legend in Berks County. He also loved animals and fifties music.

Jerry's basketball career began in 1952, when he was 17 years old, with the Olivet's Boys Club. They won the club league of the City Recreation Department. He stopped playing in 1999 when he was 64 years old. His last league was the Governor Mifflin League.

During those 47 years, Jerry was no stranger to the City Recreation Department. He played for 22 teams and had scoring sprees. On December 26, 1967, "The Reading Times" reported that: "Jerry Dobbins, who has captured individual scoring titles in each of the circuits in which he competed, is up to his old tricks. The eagle-eyes Bea's Lunch forward is the number one gunner in the Industrial League with 172 points in seven games with an average of 24.4 points per game - 68 field goals and 36 free throws." His reputation followed him most of his playing years.

In the 1950's he experienced winning the Collegiate League with Denny's Café as well as the Reading Company "Y" and in the 1960's he won the Fraternity League with Weiner's Clothes. He played for the Lucky Stars from 1968 through 1978. The team won 55 games in a succession and won the championship three years in a row. Jerry won the scoring title each year and was the M.V.P. in 1976. He sponsored his own team known as "Dobbins Auto" from 1980 to 1982. They won the Fraternity Basketball League Title and Class B Recreation Championship.

During the 47 years that Jerry played, he only missed one game, and that was for a death in the family. Jerry had a great love of the game. He stopped playing only when his mind still told him to go, but his body told him to stop.

He shared his love of basketball with his grandson, Evin, and was his number one fan. He absolutely loved being a part of Evin's basketball career, especially during Wilson High School's dream season in 2019-2020. He also beamed with pride over his granddaughter Maci's academic achievements and loved attending her volleyball games as her number one fan as well.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Beth A. Dobbins of Spring Township and Mitchell Dobbins of Reading; grandchildren: Evin, Maci, Zachary, Matthew and Elizabeth; one great granddaughter; and siblings, Patricia (Dobbins) Snyder of Ontelaunee Township and Bonnie (Dobbins) Mintzer of Lower Heidelberg Township. Jerry was predeceased by his daughter, Jan K. (Dobbins) Collins.

Services will be held on Friday, January 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading with burial to follow at Hain's Church Cemetery, Wernersville. A viewing will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. The family respectfully asks that all in attendance wear masks. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society at humanepa.org. Condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.