Just a week after participating in the ribbon cutting for the new Kingfisher Visitors Center, the local philanthropist who helped fund the building died at age 91.

Funeral services for Dorma Lea Hobbs were held Friday morning at the Federated Church in Kingfisher.

She was born April 21, 1930, to Emil and Hazel Boeckman and died Monday, Sept. 27.

As a longterm plan to construct a visitors center at the location of the old Bill’s DX filling station at the corner of Main Street and Broadway faltered due to lack of funds, Mrs. Hobbs donated $200,000 as seed money for the project two years ago.

The donation kickstarted a successful fundraising campaign by Kingfisher Trails Inc., project coordinators, which led to the completion of the building.

The visitors center will house the Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce and also includes a meeting space that may be used by other organizations.

Mrs. Hobbs, her family and other donors were recognized at a Sept. 14 reception, followed by the Sept. 15 ribbon-cutting and open house at the new facility.

Mrs. Hobbs lived on the rural homestead claimed by her grandfather in the Land Run until moving into town in 1993. Her complete obituary appears on Page 10.