Bobby Hart

Bobby Hart (Ida Jane Hatcher) left this world in the wee morning hours of Saturday December 15th, to reunite with her cartoonist husband Johnny Hart, on Heaven’s dance floor. She was predeceased by her sisters Sarah (Fred) DeShong, Oma Rae (Sam) Baker, Fran, aka “Dout” (Wiley) Baxter, and her dear friend Betty Boland. Bobby is survived by daughters Patti Hart and Perri Hart, grandsons Mason (Maraela Rodriguez) Mastroianni and Mick Mastroianni, the four of whom have been carrying on Johnny’s legacy comic strips, B.C. and Wizard of Id for the past 12 years, two special ‘great grans’, Jaylene and Jet Rodriguez, and a whole slew of nieces and nephews. Bobby also leaves behind her ‘besties’, Jeanne Caprio and Sharen Guokas, her beloved Goddaughter, Renee Niles, and two special fellas who were like sons to her, Mike Hawkins and Rick Valone.

Bobby grew up on a farm in the small country town of Boston in Thomas County, Georgia, the 17th child of Peter Lloyd Hatcher and 4th daughter of his second wife, Janie Indiana Finch. Bobby received a degree from Valdosta State University and was working as a lab technician in Macon, Georgia when she met Johnny at a Robins Air Force Base dance in 1951. It was love at first sight! They married in 1952 and Bobby became the proverbial “woman behind the man” deserving a great deal of the credit for Johnny’s success. Bobby was the namesake for the B.C. character, Queen Ida the ant, who made an annual birthday appearance in the strip every December 3rd.  An Elder of the Nineveh Presbyterian Church, Bobby loved her church family and served on many committees throughout her 30 years as a member. She was especially proud of her involvement in Christ’s Bounty, a local community outreach program serving families in need in and around the Nineveh area.

Funeral Services will be held at the Nineveh Presbyterian Church NY Rte. 7 on Sat. at 12 Noon.  Adam M. Demetros, MPA, M. Div. will officiate.  Burial will be in Nineveh Presbyterian Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the Osterhoudt-Madden Funeral Home 69-71 Maple Street Harpursville on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Colesville Volunteer Ambulance Service (CVAS) and/or Coleville Community Pantry, POB 62 Harpursville, NY  13787 would be greatly appreciated.  Online condolences may be made at:   www.omaddenfh.com.

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