Hobby Dexter Greene

Hobby Dexter Greene, 69, of Elizabethtown, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Janie Irving Greene, a daughter, Molly Greene Ammons and husband, Jamie Nasekos Ammons of Elizabethtown, two sons, Jackson McLane Greene of Elizabethtown and Adam Hobby Greene and wife Leigh Smith Greene of Oak Island, and a host of treasured cousins. He is now reunited with his brother Lee McLane Greene, his beloved parents, Alvin McLane (Mack) Greene and wife Frances Smith Greene, and his dear uncle and aunt, Roy Malcolm Jessup and wife Grace Smith Jessup.

Hobby was a 1978 graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he was a founding member of the Chi Phi Fraternity and made many lifelong friends.

With great respect for the Greene family legacy that began with the lumber yard in the 1920s, Hobby was proud to work with the family business from the time he was sixteen years old, throughout college, and then returned to Elizabethtown after college, where he and his brother, Lee, shared the management of Bladen Builders Supply for over 40 years.

The two brothers were the backbone of the development of Village Greene Properties, mini-storage units, the Town Commons shopping center, the Food Lion and San Jose properties, and houses and apartments in White Lake and Elizabethtown, with Hobby taking the lead in the construction using his North Carolina Contractors License.

He served Elizabethtown as a fireman for over 25 years, leading as Assistant Fire Chief and then as Chief briefly. He worked tirelessly as a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the original Greene Brothers, A.H. and Cecil Greene, being heavily involved in the building of Trinity. He served on the Board of Trustees for many terms and numerous other committees. Hobby was one of the driving forces behind the addition of a columbarium to the church campus and was the self-proclaimed fundraising salesman for the oyster roasts, the lobster dinners, and the numerous fish frys. Hobby, as a member of the Methodist Men, supported impactful charities and was especially fond of helping the Empty Stocking Fund.

The most defining and greatest joy of Hobby’s life was the birth of his triplets. With a warm sense of humor and unconditional love, he was endlessly present. He created playful memories for them of barefoot skiing on White Lake, surf fishing in Portsmouth, beach concerts on the golf cart, king fishing at Oak Island, and letting them ride atop a trash can lid pulled by his four-wheeler across the snow. He never missed a soccer, volleyball or baseball game. He never missed the opportunity to sit in a deer stand with Adam, Jackson and Molly.

Hobby taught his children life’s most valuable attributes by example. He was dependable, supportive, and reliable. He was resourceful and creative. Hobby was generous and kind.

From renovating the triplets' homes to constructing bulkheads and piers, Hobby could build, fix, and repair anything. His children continuously relied on him for advice, whether it related to the chicken farm, yard maintenance or repairing excavator hydraulic lines on marine construction barges. He was inspired to construct his own treehouse cabin on the Cape Fear River after hearing Leigh and Adam talk about the cabins they visited on the Edisto River.

His workshop was an assortment of machinery, materials, contraptions, and gizmos where he loved to tinker. When a stranger appeared at the door one day with a machinery malfunction, Hobby didn’t hesitate to fix it. He welcomed friends who often dropped by the shop in the afternoons for a cold drink and fellowship. His only workshop rule was “clean up after yourself!”

His Sunday morning pancakes while watching This Old House were a family tradition before going to church.

Hobby had two gears, he was either soundly asleep or full throttle ahead. Hobby loved his ten-minute naps and watching All My Children. He often solved a challenge while sleeping, talking in his sleep and awaking with the solution.

As with the triplets' acceptance to college and other milestones, days before he died, when Hobby learned that he was going to be a grandpa, he called over 60 friends to share his exciting news. This did not surprise the family; they knew he could never keep a secret. He was immensely proud of his children, their successes, their work ethic and the young adults they had become.

Now, in his passing, the Greene family will honor his legacy on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Trinity Methodist Church in Elizabethtown, located at 901 W. Broad Street. Visit with the family between 10:30 am and 12 noon in the Activity Building. The Celebration of Life will begin at 12:30 pm in the Church Sanctuary.