“Together Forever.” A simple phrase that speaks to the heart of life and of death. A simple phrase that harnesses the strength of both individuality, as well as togetherness. A simple phrase that describes how the lives of both Patricia Ann Dzmil Lobb and Melvin Lee Lobb will forever be imparted on all who knew them and know, with confidence and unabashed faith, that they are ‘together forever’ in a place where there is no pain or suffering, but only light, peace and hope.

On Friday, December 17, 2021, Patricia died peacefully with Melvin, and the couple’s surviving son, Tom, by her side at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ. She was 74 years old. 

Melvin would join his cherished wife of fifty-one years in heaven on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 when he too passed peacefully at Hunterdon Medical Center at the age of 77. 

The love story that is Patricia and Melvin begins first on May 9, 1944 when Melvin was born in Newark, NJ to the late Richard and Clara Munson Lobb.

Raised where he learned ‘street smarts’ at an early age, Melvin was a true child of the 50’s and 60’s. He loved cars and large trucks and with hair that even the ‘Fonz’ was jealous of, loved to drag race. With a natural mechanical mind, Melvin soon became known as the guy who was a wiz at fixing anything with an engine or moving parts. This trait would follow and propel him through both his professional and personal life.

Joining the United States Air Force in 1962, Melvin faithfully served his country during Vietnam, serving as an aircraft mechanic. He would be honorably discharged in 1966 and would go on to a long and successful career in large trucking sales and service for both CR and SKF with locations all across the United States.

In addition to being able to fix almost anything, Melvin was an avid deer hunter and fisherman who had a story for every occasion. His uncanny ability to recall and tell a story made it ok to stay to hear ‘just one more…”. 

August 27, 1947 is the other date which brings the story of Patricia and Melvin to life as it is the date Patricia was born to John and Anna Geley Dzmil in Newark, NJ.

Raised in Hillside, NJ, Patricia graduated from Hillside High School then after Newark State College and followed her natural ability and passion by becoming a teacher for the Union, NJ school district. For many years she taught 6th grade at the Central Six school in Union. This was followed by working as an administrative assistant for the Rutgers Snyder Research Farm, Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, NJ. 

Anything Patricia was involved in had a tilt towards helping others. She was an educator through and through, and lived to see others reach and exceed their potential and be happy in the pursuit. Being happy in the pursuit also meant being well fed, and in addition to being a wonderful teacher, Patricia was an amazing chef who brought her Ukrainian heritage to the kitchen table. Many happy memories were made over meals with Patricia over the years. 

With both Patricia and Melvin forming strong friendships in their youth, one day their peer groups overlapped at a wedding. Meeting on the dance floor, they began to date and over time they grew together in a most natural and organic way. Each of them being strong-willed and independent individually, found an uncanny connection in being together, to the point where they truly became the other’s better half. Their love continued to grow and on July 25, 1970, they would be united in holy matrimony at Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church, Hillside, NJ. 

Moving to Pittstown, NJ in 1980,  their union would bring them two sons, James Richard Lobb and Thomas John Lobb, who would both become the light of their parents eyes. 

Patricia and Melvin were devoted to their boys, and family was by far the most important thing to them both. Simply put, they were happiest when they were doing things together. Whether it was Patricia cheering on her cherished Philadelphia Eagles which the boys turned her on to, or whether it was Melvin working on his ‘55 Chevy with his sons, all that mattered was they were doing things together.

Family, friends and togetherness was at the heart of the Lobb home and though their time on Earth was cut tragically short, what is not taken away is the legacy they each leave on the hearts of so many. Their laughter, genuineness, caring, selflessness and love for family and friends will not soon be forgotten. 

In 2015, while designing their own headstone after designing the stone for their son James who passed suddenly, the couple decided together, in their simple, humble and grounded way of living life, that all they wanted on their headstone was “Together Forever” as it embodied everything they believed in as individuals, as a couple, and as children of God. We should all take heart, knowing that Patricia and Melvin are together with all those who have gone before, awaiting our arrival when we each are called home.

Surviving are the couple’s youngest son, Thomas John Lobb; their grandson, James Daniel Lobb; Patricia’s sister, Helene Schmid; several extended family; and many dear friends.

Patricia and Melvin will lie in repose on Thursday, January 27, 2022 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. There will be an additional period of gathering on Friday, January 28, 2022 from 10:00-10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

Life celebration services officiated by Rev. Tom Roberts will take place on Friday, January 28, 2022 beginning at 10:30 a.m. and to which all are welcome.

Realizing that some may be unable to attend due to the pandemic, the life celebration service on Friday, followed by the graveside honors, will be live-streamed, with the stream being active starting at 10:15 a.m. The link is the same for both locations. To watch, please click HERE and kindly ensure you do not have a pop-up blocker enabled. (If you are having issues with clicking above, please follow this link: https://vimeo.com/669612554).

Following the services, Patricia and Melvin will be buried next to their son, James, at Locust Grove Cemetery, Quakertown, NJ.

You are encouraged to visit the couple’s permanent life celebration sites at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of their life.

For those who wish to make a donation in Patricia and Melvin’s honor, you are encouraged to make a contribution to a fund being created to help the family with the multitude of medical and final expenses incurred with their sudden passing’s. Contributions may be made by clicking HERE. Any amount is much appreciated and for those who wish to mail a check, please make the check payable to ‘In Memory Of’, noting ‘LOBB’ in the memo, and mailing to ‘In Memory Of’, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”