Obituary of John "Kelly" Hubbard

Lexington — John “Kelly” Hubbard, 83, died Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at Saint Joseph East in Lexington following a brief illness. Born and raised in Wise, Virginia, the youngest son of John J. K. and Lakie S. J. (Gilliam) Hubbard, he was a resident of Kingsport, Tennessee for 35 years after his retirement from the U.S. Air Force and before his relocation to Lexington to be near family.  After graduating from JJ Kelly High School in 1954, he married his next-door neighbor and high school sweetheart, Jackie Bates, 1955 while home on leave after joining the United States Air Force earlier that year. After retiring from the Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1975, Kelly joined the Kingsport Times-News as a District Manager, and retired a second time over 20 years later as the longest tenured Circulation Director in the history of the newspaper. Kelly enjoyed playing golf, fishing, and watching horse racing. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Church Hill, Tennessee where he served as a Deacon, on a number of committees and missionary trips.

Kelly leaves his wife of 64 years, Jacqueline “Jackie” (Bates) Hubbard, and four children: Mike Hubbard and his wife, Becca Richmond, Kentucky; Brad Hubbard and his wife, Karen, of Ellicott City, Maryland; Joe Hubbard and his wife, Jeanne, of Rockingham, North Carolina; and Vicki Hubbard of Arkansas; as well as 13 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and numerous nephews, nieces and friends.

The family will receive friends from 12pm to 1pm on Monday, February 10, 2020 at Carter-Trent Funeral Home downtown, Kingsport. A celebration of life Service will follow with Pastor Gary Gerhardt officiating.

A graveside service will be conducted at 3pm on Monday, February 10, 2020 at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at the cemetery by 2:50pm.

Carter-Trent Funeral Home downtown, Kingsport is serving the Hubbard family.