Holly MatkinChildress, TX – Childress County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Reserve Deputy Tom Larry Hoobler died in the line of duty on July 17 while conducting traffic control at the scene of a stranded vehicle.
The 74-year-old reserve deputy had responded to a report of a stranded tractor-trailer east of town on U.S. 287 and was waiting for a tow truck to arrive, the CCSO said in a Facebook post the following day.
The tractor-trailer was partially blocking the roadway, so Reserve Deputy Hoobler wanted to make sure other drivers were aware of the potential hazard.
“Tom was sitting in his patrol car with the overhead lights on to protect the motoring public from the hazard when he quietly passed away,” the CCSO said.
Reserve Deputy Hoobler, who had also been directing traffic at the Childress Old Settlers Rodeo parade in the heat and humidity earlier in the day, died of a heart attack, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
“Tom’s passing has left a huge hole not only with this office, but the community as well,” the CCSO said.
In addition to his 18 years of service with the CCSO, Reserve Deputy Hoobler previously retired from the Wichita County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Department of Health, according to his obituary.
Reserve Deputy Hoobler leaves behind his wife, Lila, and his daughters, Katherine and Cayla.
He is also survived by his brother, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Reserve Deputy Hoobler was laid to rest on July 22.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of Childress County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Sheriff Tom Larry Hoobler. May God grant him eternal peace. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/19ucx3s3P8
— NYPD Chaplains Unit (@NYPDchaplains) July 25, 2021
Our thoughts are with the Childress County Sheriff's Office and the family and friends of Reserve Deputy Sheriff Tom Larry Hoobler who died while responding to a disabled vehicle east of Childress, Texas. #EOW #LODD pic.twitter.com/f5cf2F1xbK
— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) July 26, 2021
🔹 Blessed Are The Peacemakers 🔹
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Tom Larry Hoobler
Childress County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch Saturday, July 17, 2021#EnoughIsEnough #OfficerDown #EOW #ThinBlueLine pic.twitter.com/BYUrqkjIXl
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) July 26, 2021
It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the death of Reserve Deputy Sheriff Tom Larry Hoobler of the Childress County Sheriff's Office in Texas.
End of Watch: Saturday, July 17, 2021 pic.twitter.com/QwwltWiSfW
— Thin Blue Line USA (@thinbluelineUSA) July 26, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Childress County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Tom Larry Hoobler, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
