Obituary of The Rev. Kenneth H. Lobb

The Rev. Kenneth Harrison Lobb, of Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pa., left this life on April 6, 2016, after a sustained battle with ocular melanoma, a rare cancer. He was 62. An ordained minister, Rev. Lobb served as pastor of the Annandale Reformed Church, Annandale, N.J., since 2008. In addition, he was a telecommunications specialist for 27 years for Verizon, retiring in 2013. Ken was the son of William E. Lobb, of Readington Township, N.J., and the late Gloria Lobb. Ken and his wife, Wonza, were married in 1993. He leaves two stepsons, Channggeon Keum, husband of Helen Sobolik, of New York City; Don Keum, husband of Yika, of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., stepdaughter Inju Keum, partner of Steve Schmitz, of Catskill, N.Y., and two step grandchildren. Ken was also an adopted father to a son and daughter, Seung Shin Lobb and Min Shin Lobb, of Garnerville, N.Y. In addition to his father, Lobb survivors include a brother, Welles, husband of Theresa Oravec, of Alllentown, Pa; sisters Sally Miller, wife of David McCarty, of Selinsgrove, Pa., and Nancy Lobb Gulyas of Readington ; three nieces; one nephew; and one great niece. Born in Plainfield, N.J., on January 31, 1954, Ken lived in Fanwood, N.J., before moving with his family to Readington in 1965. He graduated from Hunterdon Central High School, class of 1972, where he was active in clubs, sports, and stage events. While in school, Ken worked as a reporter and features writer for the Hunterdon County Democrat. Ken was a proud alumnus of Hope College, Holland, Mich., class of 1977. After college, he was a journalist in Grand Haven, Mich., before returning to the East Coast in 1979 to pursue other interests. Ken met Wonza in New York City in 1990 and bonded over interests in music, culture, and spirituality. As the relationship grew, Wonza encouraged Ken to expand his educational reach. Ken earned a master of education degree from Adelphia University, as well as an associate's in telecommunications from New York Institute of Technology. In 1999 he enrolled part-time in New Brunswick Theological Seminary, eyeing a second career in the ministry, and eight years later received a master of divinity degree. Ken was ordained in January, 2010. Before his appointment at Annandale, Rev. Lobb presided for brief periods in nine other Reformed and Presbyterian churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in a variety of student, substitute, or interim capacities, including: Belvidere, Bradley Gardens, Forks Township, High Bridge, Lebanon, Millstone, Newtown, Phillipsburg, and Stanton. Ken lived fully and energetically and made many friends. He traveled to 49 states, resided in five, and wrote extensively in diaries. In 2014, he published an acclaimed novel, "We Picked Up," a story based on his 1971 cross-country hitchhiking trip at age 17. On February 26, 1993, at work in a Verizon office, Ken escaped the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center uninjured. With Wonza's support, Rev. Lobb's dedication to his work sparked a renaissance at Annandale Reformed Church resulting in increased attendance, expanded church and community programs, facility improvements, and an improved financial picture. Ken served as president of the Delaware-Raritan Classis, the 30-congregation regional administrative body of the Reformed Church in America. Until his illness progressed Ken maintained active interest in orchestral music, Korean culture, writing, theology, pro football, travel and home improvements. As recently as last December, he and Wonza performed a voice duet with the public-student choir of Northampton Community College. Family and friends are invited to gather on Sunday, April 10, from 2-5 and 7-9 PM at the Martin Funeral Home,1761 Route 31, Clinton, NJ. A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 11, at 11 AM at Annandale Reformed Church, 2 West Street, Annandale NJ. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, Cokesbury Road, Clinton Township. Contributions in Ken's memory may be made to Northampton Community College Chorus, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020. To share memories of Ken or to send condolences to his family, please visit www.martinfh.com