Hobart Franklin Chastain Jr

Hobart Franklin Chastain, Jr.

Hobart Franklin Chastain Jr. was born October 3, 1925 in Pasadena, CA to Hobart F. Chastain Sr. and Anita H. Turner Chastain. He lived the majority of his life in California, 81 years, he then moved to Eden, Utah for 9 years and spent the last few years in Ogden, Utah. When he was younger he spent 5 summers in Nome, Alaska and 3 summers in British Columbia gold mining.

He graduated from South Pasadena High School, attended Pasadena City College, Iowa State University, Mt. San Antonio College, and the US Coast Guard Power Squadron. He was a Perpetual Student - never stopped studying and learning about our world through books and online courses.

After graduating high school in June of 1943, Hobie enlisted in the US Navy on September 13, 1943. After completing Navy Boot Camp at the Training Center in San Diego, he sailed on a troop ship (USS Gen. T. H. Bliss) to Hawaii and then onto New Caledonia to meet his assigned ship on April 2, 1944. The USS Bullard DD660 was a Fletcher Class Destroyer based in the New Hebrides Islands where it escorted convoys in and around the Marianas, Guan, Tinian, and Anioitoch. While operating in this area they hit a submerged reef and tore off one fluke of one prop. the limped back to Pearl Harbor on one screw and then all the way back to San Francisco for repair. while in dry dock, dad went to a Gyro School and then Small Boat Handling School. After completion he was reassigned to the YMS292 a 136' wooden hulled Mine Sweeper. They departed San Francisco and sailed for Pearl and then on to the Sea of Japan. The war ended not long after his arrival but they remained on station and cleared mines that had been dropped by B29's to isolate the Japanese Islands. While in the area he visited the ports at Kobe and Osaka. At the end of their assignment they sailed back to Pearl and then back to San Francisco for decommissioning. He was discharged from service on May 20, 1946.

He studied electronics in the Navy and went to work at Beckman Instruments when he returned from the war. He married Delores McWilliams June 19, 1948 in Pasadena California. After getting married he realized his career path was limited and took a job working for his new father-in-law at the Los Angeles Country Road Department. The work was steady, the pay good and room for advancement. Through the years he studied management and supervision. He put that education to good use rising in his division to a Supervisor managing crews performing maintenance on 1000's of street lights and hundreds of traffic signals in Los Angeles County. He retired March 31, 1978 at the age of 52 1/2.

A second career began after he was married Delores. Her father (John) was an entrepreneurial kind of guy and was always looking to branch off into new endeavors. He bought a fishing boat in Newport Beach, California, and began to build a charter sport fishing operation. It became successful and soon he purchased a second boat that was run by Hobie. He was back on the ocean with salt spray in his face. They took out 6 fishermen at a time and the fishing was good; yellowtail, albacore and an occasional marlin. Catalina Island became a second hot spot for them.

John was a hard worker and had discovered Big Bear Lake. Good fishing and clean air. He purchased a starter home and then a larger home for the family. he was negotiating to buy the local lumber yard in Big Bear when tragedy struck. He suffered a major heart attack and was evacuated back down the mountain to Los Angeles. While recuperating in the hospital he suffered another heart attack that took his life. he passed away at the age of 48. His burgeoning empire crumbled because of cash flow and the boats had to go. No more charters for Hobie and the lure of the sea escaped him.

His third career was following his love of geology. he became a gold miner. Craig was with him when he staked his first claim in Big Bear. Hobie was out placing the claim makers to identify his property when he scared up a rattlesnake. He could hear it but not see it. He took his little son in his arms, drew his pistol and gracefully retreated the area to safety. The lure of gold was always in his mind and in the mid 1990's he finally made it to Alaska. He returned there every year for 5 years before staking his own claim with 3 of his friends in British Columbia, Canada. Finally age caught up with him and he was forced to sell his stake in the operation in 2005.

Hobie had many hobbies and interests. He enjoyed salt water fishing: salmon fishing on the Oregon and Washington Coast; Long Range Trips down to Baja for Tuna, Dorado and Marlin, local Southern California fishing for Albacore, Yellowtail, Rockfish and Grouper. His fresh water fishing included streams and lakes for trout; fly fishing/trolling. He was a big lover of Bishop, Mammoth Lakes and Bridgeport. He did fly tying, tying all sizes of fresh and salt water patterns; Streamers and Dry flies. He enjoyed rifle hunting for deer, duck, dove and quail. Hobie studied Geology and became a Rock-Hound for his entire life. He has an extensive collection of gems and minerals from across the Western U.S. He was an Avid Green Thumb gardener; harvesting plant seeds and bulbs to perpetuate species. He experimented and created home brewing styles of amber and light beers, developed a Sour Dough Starter and bread that has never been matched by anyone. He also smoked both mead and fish that went great with a home brew and some Sour Dough Bread. He was an avid reader and finally made the change to a Kindle Paper-white because of his extensive reading. He ran out of places to store his books. He has over 500 books he's read on his Kindle now.

He devoted his entire life to seeing the sights of this great country. As a young boy the family tent camped in Sequoia National Park; he met his wife there. he backpacked with his own family many times and then took a horse and mule packer trip to the backcountry. Camping evolved into a small trailer which grew larger as the family got bigger. His trailer camping days went on through his mid eighties when he finally sold his truck and trailer. Hobie also was a street motorcycle rider, desert dirt bike rider, ATV rider, water skier, snow skier, part-time co-pilot for his son, and a hot air balloon crew member.

He inherited an antique camera used in the late 1800's, from a relative, that he learned and mastered its use. Built his own dark room and developed both black and white then eventually color film. Progressed through all the different films and then transitioned to today's digital media. He learned the Internet and became a researcher and purchaser of a multitude of products. Boy could he surf the net and find some pretty obscure things to buy! There wasn't a thing he couldn't figure out and easier and quicker a way to do. He was always studying and engineering a better way.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Delores; his son Craig Chastian and two daughters, Sandra Goldstone and Jeanette Cornell; 6 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren and a brother-in-law, John McWilliams.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at Evergreen Memorial Park, 100 Monroe Blvd. A viewing will be held prior from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Myers Ogden Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd.
VisitationMyers Mortuary of Ogden
845 Washington Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84404
September 5, 2018
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
GravesideMyers Evergreen Memorial Park
100 Monroe Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84404
September 5, 2018
2:00 PM