Tributes

We invite you to celebrate the life of Dr. James C. Dobson by sharing your thoughts and memories here.

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This page will display the words of people from around the world who have been impacted by the life and ministry of Dr. James Dobson.

You may also leave your tribute by calling 844-823-2669.

Recent Tributes

Dr. James Dobson became my counselor in 1977. My husband and I married in January 1977 and I listened to his programs and followed him from then on. He was there for the trials of marriage and difficulties of family. He was there with child rearing and the challenges of sibling rivalry. He was there when I needed prayer and I could call their hotline and tell them of an immediate need I had like when I found out my son was choosing a homosexual lifestyle. Dr. Dobson was there. He was there when we had a sudden loss in our family and I was reeling and trying to understand how I was to go on. I am so grateful for this ministry and for the man that carved out the niche that ministered to all of us and sought to follow God‘s ideal. Thank you, Shirley, Danae, and Ryan for your sacrificial support of your dad and your husband. He shall be missed by all, but I know that there’s a gaping hole in your family and you are in my prayers. Thank you for sharing him with the world.

Susan

Thank you Dr. Dobson for being a Christian dad that I didn’t have. I had a good, caring dad, but you as my Christian dad was a lot different, and I married a good Christian man. Thank you for being in the place and time God wanted you to be for support. My 33-year-old daughter grew up while we listened to your ministry and is working on being the Christian mom God called her to be. She is reading many of your books and plays the Odyssey series with her girls. I went to college and received my degree in early childhood with a BS. I’m now a teacher. Thank you for your inspiration to many.

Tina

We began listening to Dr. Dobson around 1982 as young parents of three children. Dr. Dobson provided encouragement, counsel, and discipline for our hearts as we endeavored to raise our children in the admonition of the Lord. Once Dr. Raymond Moore was introduced on one of the radio broadcasts, we made the decision to homeschool our children. For the next eight years, we attended homeschool events, read recommended reading lists for homeschooling families, and learned a great deal from those early broadcasts as to how to homeschool and train and teach our children. Homeschooling was a brand new thought in the early 1980s but was a direction that worked well for our children for a number of years. Having the courage to step out into unknown territory was provided by Dr. Dobson and Dr. Moore. Thank you for fighting for the unborn and your unwavering commitment to the helpless and downtrodden of our society. You have provided leadership, you spoke for millions who had no voice, and you never stopped fighting for life. Dr. Dobson’s humility, kindness, leadership, and vision for hurting families have helped countless millions. Our family is just one of those countless numbers of people. We will always feel Dr. Dobson was a part of our family. His books, radio broadcasts, guests, and vision for helping hurting families have made an unmistakable impact on our lives. We are forever grateful for his life and dedication to Jesus. Thank you, Dr. Dobson, for living life so well for us to watch, learn, and listen. You will be sorely and deeply missed.

Keith & Karin

I don’t remember the first time I heard of Dr. Dobson, but my children are now 43 and 40! It was very early in their lives when we used children’s hymns and praise cassette tapes to help them go to sleep. We also played “Adventures in Odyssey” tapes on a regular basis, and they loved those stories. Dr. Dobson was referred to many times in conversations at home and among friends. He was a great encourager to me, and because of his strong stand I was able to take a stronger stand in regard to my conservative Christian beliefs.

Lois

My heart is heavy, and I feel the loss of Dr. Dobson for myself, his family, and all of those who were affected by his wisdom. I always gave him credit for helping us raise our 3 daughters. Now as a grandma of 7, I continue to seek his advice and use many of his resources to help our grandparent group to pass on his wisdom to our grandchildren and encourage them to embrace and love the faith. May our Lord welcome you home with open arms, Dr. Dobson, His good and faithful servant. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Karen

I stood in Dr. Dobson’s office in Colorado Springs, and I wanted to remove my sandals from off my feet! The Lord has used the ministries of Dr. Dobson so profoundly in my life. My prayers are for Shirley and the entire Dobson family. Thank you, Jesus, for Dr. James Dobson. Blessings, Perry

Perry

As a young mother many years ago, the Focus on the Family monthly magazine was a lifeline to me. It was the only voice of encouragement for mothers to take care of their own children and not abandon them to daycare. Dr. Dobson’s advice and wisdom meant the world to me, and I will be eternally grateful. Well done, good and faithful servant!

Karen

I cannot tell you what impact Dr. Dobson’s teachings had on my life. Thank you to the family for giving him to the world for God’s service, and to all those who gave to Family Talk so the rest of us could hear the truth.

Julie

Dr. James Dobson brought the world to me through our kitchen radio. His books, guests, and video series he would provide for home, church, and community gatherings taught and instructed me (us). He introduced me to biblical, gospel-centered, moral, and cultural people and issues that helped ground me and direct me as I was a young wife and mom starting my life’s calling in the ’70s. As his warm welcoming voice would come over our under-counter kitchen radio every morning, I would be encouraged in my faith, my choice to be a stay-at-home mom, and my conviction to homeschool our children. He and his guests encouraged, supported, and provided resources for me to deepen and strengthen my parenting and educating of our children. He was the LONE voice at that time in support of homeschooling. Without his encouragement and support (from my husband and parents as well), I don’t know if I would have had the courage to do it. I never met him personally, but I will one day. Thank you, Dr. Dobson. You were a voice of reason, humor, compassion, and wisdom . . . and a most faithful servant of the Lord Jesus.

Marilyn

The — is complete. Well done! I regularly listened to James Dobson on my lunch, sitting in my car with the radio tuned to the Christian station. He offered much wisdom on how to raise kids, but, in a larger sense, he shared how to be a man in a crazy, confusing world. He spoke of how life is lived in the dash, the time between your birth and death chiseled into a gravestone. He lived as a true marathon sprinter, undeterred by life’s storms. Like the Apostle Paul, Jim fought the good fight, stayed the course, and finished the race, all the while urging fellow dashers to follow him as he followed Jesus Christ. As Jim crossed the finish line, I expect a smiling Jesus and a roaring crowd of angels greeted him.

Daniel

Dr. Dobson has meant so much to me over the past 30 years that I have been listening to him. He always reminded me of my grandfather, who was strong physically, mentally, and spiritually. He gave me insight and wisdom into God‘s Word about so many topics, such as dating, marriage, raising boys and girls, our values, honoring our leaders and our country, and how to work and do all things for the glory of God. He will be sorely missed on this earth. I look forward to the day when we are both in the presence of the Lord. I then can thank him for allowing God to use him. Dr. Dobson was always so humble, but at the same time bold and courageous. He has attributes that I see in Christ that I want to become like, and that I want to pass on to my children and hopefully someday grandchildren. Thank you, Dr. Dobson, for allowing God to use you to speak to my heart.

Randall

I thank Dr. Dobson for the wisdom he shared in his many books on marriage and family. They were foundational in helping us raise our kids and build a lasting marriage. A testimony of his influence came when the news of Dr. Dobson’s death was broadcast, and our 51-year-old son called to check on me, knowing I would be grieving.

Judy

I started listening to Dr. Dobson on the radio when I had the privilege of staying home, expecting my second child over 36 years ago. I remember many stories on his show that still impact me all these years later. I’ve always said how I wish he was my dad! Thank you, God, for such a wonderful servant!

Miki

I had the opportunity to read one of his books while in seminary: “When God Doesn’t Make Sense.” I didn’t meet him in person but heard the story of his father and how he dedicated his family to God. His memory is blessed, and God will comfort his entire family. George

George

Praise the Lord for Dr. Dobson, who inspired me in so many ways to live a life with purpose. I always dreamed of being interviewed by him or working for him. He is a man that kept fighting for the truth. I pray others will be inspired even more to keep fighting for faith, family, and freedom. Glory be to God!

C A

I am writing to express my profound sadness over the loss of Dr. Dobson. As an early listener of Focus on the Family for many years, I am almost too emotional to fully articulate my thoughts. Dr. Dobson’s books and radio ministry were instrumental in helping me raise my own children. He was truly a spiritual father to millions, and his passing is a personal loss that I cannot adequately express. My heart goes out to Shirley during this incredibly difficult time. The world has indeed lost a giant among men.

Patti

I have read very few books besides the Bible. Dare to Discipline was a lifesaver to me!

KELLY

After being saved, I regularly started listening to a Christian radio station. Initially, the program I had the most difficulty digesting was Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family; there were many occasions I wanted to switch the radio off because of the things I heard on the program. Before I became a born-again Christian, I was a radical feminist and “burned my bra” with the best of them. As I got to know the Word of God through daily Bible reading and other spiritual input, I realized that Dr. Dobson got his program material straight from God’s Word, and I could not argue with that. Over time, this became one of my favorite programs to listen to. A lot of healing and restoration took place in my life and in relationships with my family and friends. The thirteen-week DVD teaching, “The Truth Project” produced by Focus on the Family, has forever changed the way I think, and today I am one of their biggest advocates.

Abigail

In 1989, I was a counselor at the Billy Graham Crusade in Cleveland Ohio. I was working out in the hotel where our family was staying. I was having a hard time getting my treadmill to work when a very nice middle-aged man helped me. We worked out next to each other and had a wonderful conversation about our families and life experiences. As we finished, he asked why l was in Cleveland. I told him I was a counselor at the crusade. He replied that he, too, was there for the crusade. It was then l realized that l had just had a 45-minute conversation with with one of my Christian heroes. I will never forget my time with Dr. Dobson. We are praying for the family.

Bonnie

As first-generation Christian parents, my husband and I looked to God’s Word first for guidance in training our children. Second only to God’s Word were Dr. James Dobson’s books, radio program, and Focus on the Family’s resources. I learned so much from Dr. Dobson about love, discipline, and keeping the Lord at the center of your family. I remember when Dr. Dobson entered the political sphere with the Meese Commission, and how difficult – but how necessary – was his task. In spite of his fame, success, and many critics, Dr. Dobson never succumbed to greed, pride, people-pleasing, authoritarianism, harshness, or compromise. He stayed faithful and allowed the Lord’s light to shine through him until the moment he heard God’s voice say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I am so grateful to have had access to the great resources Dr. Dobson provided for families. I wish I had known him personally to say “thank you.” Sadly, at the moment, my grown children have turned away from their faith, as many have in this day and age, but I still see the benefits of their Christian upbringing in the way they live their lives, and my husband and I pray every day that God brings them back to what they learned in childhood. I want to thank Shirley, Ryan, and Danae, who must have made innumerable difficult sacrifices so that Dr. Dobson could share his wisdom with the world. You are a huge part of his ministry. Thanks also to all the people who took (and still take) part in his ministries. Praying God continues this great work; families need you! God bless. Laurie Jackson, Terre Haute, IN

Laurie

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