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. Dobson will always have a special place in my family. I remember hearing and knowing about him when I was growing up. My mom gave me his book, Preparing for Adolescence, when I was a young adult, and it helped me so much during my teenage years. Now as an adult, I have read several of his books and applied his wisdom in the process of raising my own children. I have also given my teenage kids Preparing for Adolescence to read, and I know it has helped them too. My heart is sad to know that Dr. Dobson is no longer with us. Even though I never met him in person, he was always my go-to person when I needed advice or guidance for raising my children, for my marriage, or for any family question I had – even more now that my parents are gone too. I will miss him very much. It’s hard when the people that support your values, morals, and beliefs leave us. But I know he is with the Lord, enjoying heaven, and I’m pretty sure he will be interceding for all of us. My prayers for his wife, Shirley, and their kids and family during this time of mourning. Thank you, Dr. Dobson, for giving your life to God and for everything you did for all of us in this world.

Vilma

Dr. Dobson was welcome in my home, my car, and anywhere else that I could hear his serious but warm & tender voice. He influenced me and my relationship with my Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, for more than 50 years (I am now 72). His thoughts on pornography grabbed my attention, and I used them to try and affect others ever since I first heard them. My alarm clock was set to Family Talk @7:30am to start my day. I will miss him greatly! Looking forward to meeting him in eternity. May the God of comfort be with Shirley, Ryan, & Danae as they forge ahead in this life without their precious husband and father.

Nancy

We send our sympathy to and pray for the family of a great man to whom we listened on Focus on the Family when we were young parents and were from divorced families. We needed Dr. Dobson’s counsel on how to parent, how to have a good marriage, and we stood with all his strong political issues (e.g., promoting life and opposing pornography). We are now older, and our marriage has lasted for 58 years. Even though the enemy tempted our children to stray from their Christian values, they both repented and came back to their faith in Jesus Christ. Through those days, listening to Dr. Dobson daily helped us to carry on in our trust in Christ and apply the practical counsel we received from him. We thank God for men like him who have stayed strong in their beliefs and stayed on mission to change this crazy world we live in. God truly changed our family’s lives through Dr. Dobson, and he will be so missed – but we know his legacy will live on. Thank you, Dr. Dobson, for all you have done.

Mr. & Mrs. Don

As a new Christian, I discovered Focus on the Family’s broadcast and therefore Dr. Dobson. He was such an integral part of our parenting. Raising three boys was hard, but Dr. Dobson’s radio program and books helped us shape them into Christ-loving men. From childhood to the teenage years, Dr. Dobson helped us be better parents and even better husband and wife. I even have the story he wrote about his mom and dad printed out – such a love story that touched my heart, and I’m sure so many others. I’m also sure that Dr. Dobson is in the presence of Christ right now, and I believe Jesus has said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Carol

Dr. Dobson, through Focus on the Family, is why my 2 daughters (because their dad and I divorced) turned out so well. Many times I gained much wisdom from his program about what I should do. I have his last book, Your Legacy. My condolences to Shirley and children. He will be missed, but thankfully he’s with his Savior whom he loved so much. ❤

Julianna

My deepest condolences on your loss but joyful for our hope in the future reunion in heaven through our blessed Savior Jesus.

Patricia

Above all, Dr. Dobson encouraged me to STAND! My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Sylvia

I was saddened to hear of Dr Dobson’s passing, although, almost immediately, I was happy for him. I cannot express how much I appreciated and benefited from Dr. Dobson’s teaching, whether in talk, articles, or books. I followed his advice many times in raising my children in the 1980s. May God raise up more voices to continue the messages Dr. Dobson so tirelessly proclaimed through the years. May Shirley and the rest of the family rest in a peace that passes understanding! With love, Cindy

Cindy

We first met Jim in a small venue at Central Christian Church in San Jose. He was introducing his VHS tape series. The tapes were called the “Focus on the Family Film Series”—a seven-part set of his live family-seminar talks. The seminars were filmed March 26, 1977 at Trinity University (San Antonio) and rolled out to churches as a film series in 1978. That was the beginning. We took our granddaughter to the FOF campus, and she was just in time to take a role in a radio play that FOF would broadcast. Wow! A few years later we visited the Family Talk location, also in Colorado Springs. They were still fleshing out that new facility, but they were operational. We had an excellent tour and met several staff members. We would have met Jim for the 2nd time, but he had been asked, along with others in a White House council, to be there with the president. So we knew him before FOF, and supported him there and at Family Talk as we were able. A wonderful ministry, a journey completed, and you have heard the “well done!” that we all want to hear – by your example of being effective, and then refusing to retire, and being effective again. Your dad stayed in ministry to a point you always wanted to achieve. It surely looks as if you did that. It wasn’t our first visit to Colorado Springs – we had been visiting there annually for about 30 years.

Dean and Brenda

It’s hard to believe that two of my heroes in the Christian faith have gone home to be with the Lord this month. The first was Dr. MacArthur, and now Dr. James Dobson—“Doc,” as I affectionately called him. As I’ve read through countless tributes to Doc, one theme stands out again and again: he was a man who walked his talk. He was the same person behind the scenes as he was on the platform—genuine, caring, and deeply committed to living out his faith. Years ago, when I was working at Focus on the Family, my wife Holly faced a serious health crisis after being diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. Before her surgery, Doc himself came to the hospital to visit us and pray with us. That simple act of kindness left a lasting mark on my heart. After Holly’s successful surgery, I wrote to thank him—and in return, he sent us a full-length, handwritten letter expressing his gratitude to God for her recovery and assuring us of his continued prayers. Every time I saw him after that, I would give him updates about Holly’s health. I’ll never forget the big hug he gave me when I told him she was expecting a child—something the doctors had said would never happen naturally – and then another hug when we shared the news of our next child! That was who he was: genuinely rejoicing with those who rejoiced, truly bearing others’ burdens. Doc finished well. He loved the Lord. He loved people. And he left behind a legacy of faithfulness and compassion that will not be forgotten.

Paul

I first learned about Dr. Dobson in the early-to-mid ’90s. I listened to his FOTF broadcast daily for decades. Then I listened to him on Family Talk. I give him credit for re-fathering me and helping me to realize why I grew up an angry boy and had behaviors that I could not shake. God used Dr. Dobson in powerful ways to heal me, mature my faith in Christ, and much more! I am one of millions that Dr. Dobson blessed mightily. I will miss him, and I look forward to seeing him in Heaven. God bless his family during this time of such sorrow.

Robert

Dr. James Dobson spearheaded a movement to maintain the truths of the Bible as our world crumbled within and around us. Against all odds, we are still married today (43 yrs.) because of his books, broadcasts, Adventures in Odyssey’s family modeling, & his fatherly fortitude on the issues of our day. Our own five grown sons now express courage to be standard-bearers for family, faith, freedom, & truth in their own lives. Dr. Dobson’s influence on our lives through his ministry at Focus on the Family & his books certainly have contributed to that effect. There is no end to the power of a force for good resulting from one simple man’s example of a surrendered life! Thank you sincerely to the family, who most certainly sacrificed much to release such a great man to his destiny. We pray for the peace and comfort of Christ for you in this deep, earthly loss.

This is so sad! I loved listening to Dr. Dobson daily on Focus on the Family at 2:00pm or 9:00pm every day. He was amazing! I always wanted to talk to him because he was full of wisdom. The world is changing daily, and it makes me so sad. He had the best people on his shows. He was the best interviewer.

Cheryl

I was born again on April 25, 1979, and, during the early days of my walk, Dr. Dobson helped me as a single mother of 3 with biblical truths and wisdom for raising my children! Love Must Be Tough was a godsend, and in 2010 I reached out and was helped tremendously! Prayers for his family and a deep gratitude for his mission in this world and staying faithful to God’s Word!

Berlinda

Dr. Dobson’s books helped me raise my kids. He also had great advice for married couples. He was so relatable. I am thankful for Focus on the Family that champions Christian values.

Karen

Dr. Dobson was really a gift from God. He was father to generations, at a time when many homes had no father. He always spoke God’s truth and wisdom “in love.” So happy that he’s entered into God’s rest. Praying for comfort and encouragement for Shirley and family, plus all of those who ate at his table.

Jeffrey

Some of the best advice I received raising our four sons came from Dr. Dobson. And his dedication to the defense of America’s unborn babies was inspiring. He will be missed. Bradley Mattes, President, Life Issues Institute

Bradley

It is with a grateful heart that I write this personal tribute to Dr. James Dobson. I am one of the thousands of people he led into a greater understanding of who we are as Christians, parents, friends, and members of a greater community. In 1984 and 1986, as answers to prayer, we had two beautiful daughters, truly gifts from the Lord. For all of our 45 years of marriage, we have been blessed by the selfless obedience of Dr. Dobson. His insights and encouragement, the speakers we were able to hear, and the books made available through his ministry gave us the tools we needed to be better parents. Dr. Dobson’s ministry to our family has continued as we and our grandchildren read Clubhouse, Jr., Clubhouse, Brio magazines, as well as Adventures in Odyssey, and we enjoy Family Talk. Your free telephone counseling center and referrals were a source of encouragement, and I have personally received advice that helped. You need to know that those miracle daughters were smart, yet highly strong-willed, prodigals for over 10 years. But God always has plans, and we learned to trust Him. Our daughters have returned to Christ, and it is because of your ministries that we were able to get insight into how to speak to them, how to love them, and how to pray for them – and even how to have “tough love.” I have learned and grown as a wife, mother, leader, and, most importantly, a Christian because of the ministry and the faith of Dr. Dobson. I believe Dr. Dobson will go down in history as one of the greatest and humblest Christian leaders of his generation and probably those following. He surely caused my husband and me to become aware of our civic obligation to be witnesses of Christ wherever we are. We are very grateful to his family for their integral part in his ministry. May the God of all comfort be with you now, and also as you continue this vital ministry to the glory of God alone. In the love of Christ, Phyllis and Thomas Jones

Phyllis

Listening to Dr. James Dobson’s voice in his early radio broadcasts influenced me and were a lifeline after coming to the Lord as a college student in 1976. Becoming a stay-at-home mom by the mid ‘80s, I looked forward to listening to his programs and bought many of his wise books – on marriage, Christian life, and parenting – which supported and helped me and our family immensely. I’m so thankful for Dr. Dobson’s influence, and I know the Lord greeted him lovingly with open arms. Shirley, Danae, Ryan, and all others who loved him, you will be in my prayers.

Diane

We have lost a very special person today; our loss is heaven’s gain. Dr. Dobson’s calm, reassuring manner will be greatly missed by people around the world. His wisdom, truth, and love for our Savior and families was obvious to all. I pray for comfort for his family & friends and that his words & broadcasts will live on in the coming generations – they are timeless. I pray that God will raise up men to take his place. Well done, Dr. Dobson – you finished the race!

Patricia

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