Emily Ann Holley Hubbard

EMILY ANN HOLLEY HUBBARD

May 11, 1935 ~ December 11, 2024

Emily Ann Holley was born on May 11, 1935, on the family farm two miles west of Brooklyn, Iowa, in the same room where her father was born. She was the only child born to George Earl Holley and Anna Katharina Wilhelmina Stoker Holley.

Her education started in a one-room country school, about ¼ miles from the family farm, where the teacher taught all eight grades. Emily often walked to school. By seventh grade, she began riding the rural school bus to town where she continued her education until graduating from Brooklyn High School in 1953. That is where she first met "Ronnie Hubbard," whom she started dating at the age of fourteen. They fell in love and were married on June 17, 1956. Throughout their lives and today, if you ask their close friends, they might tell you that they think of Ron and Em as one individual, instead of two, as they have always been so devoted to each other.

After high school, Emily attended a three-year nurse training program at Iowa Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated in August of 1956. The couple bought a mobile home and moved to Ames, Iowa where Emily worked at Mary Greely Hospital while Ron finished his senior year at Iowa State University. In June 1957, the couple moved to Santa Monica, CA where Ron accepted a position with Douglas Aircraft and Emily worked as an office nurse for Dr. Sandie in Beverly Hills.

In May 1958, they returned to Iowa, moving to Baxter where Ron managed one location of his father’s D.W. Hubbard Lumber Company. While living in Baxter, the couple’s four daughters were born, and they established many treasured friendships. Prompted by harsh Iowa winters that resulted in Emily and the girls getting sick too frequently, the family moved to San Diego in 1966.  They settled first in Pacific Beach, where they eventually built their dream home on Belloc Court.

They joined Christ Lutheran Church (CLC) upon arrival in San Diego where they were active members for 45 years and made many lifelong friends. Both being only children, Ron and Em soon gravitated towards others at church who had no immediate family in town. They participated in couples group, Bible School, Beach Bums, church camping, potluck dinners, celebrated many holidays and anniversaries and enjoyed numerous evenings playing cards and crazy games with their CLC friends over the years. CLC was indeed the “Friendly Church for Friendly People,” and the Hubbard family cherishes the continuing relationships that were established during this period of time.

Em was a member of the Twin Mothers Club where she got tips and tricks for parenting multiples. She was active in her daughters’ lives becoming a Girl Scout leader helping troop members earn badges, leading hikes and camping trips and managing annual cookie sales. Emily was the instigator of family picnic days to Cuyamaca, family camp at Yolijwa Lutheran Camp and afternoon trips with the girls to enjoy Mission Bay at the foot of Lamont Street.

In 1982, Em and Ron went on their Lutheran Marriage Encounter (LME) weekend, which changed their lives. Their already good marriage was enhanced and blossomed to new heights. They were asked to become a presenting couple for LME; they accepted and presented LME weekends for 15 years during which time they expanded their circle of friendship to include other couples who also benefitted from the LME experience. 

To ease the empty nest feeling after the girls went to college, Em was inspired to host a foreign exchange student from Quebec, Canada.  Marcel became one of her "5th daughters" and they have remained in touch all these years later.  In 1999, Emily's doctor advised her to get rid of the cat and move to a drier climate, due to her allergies.  By then the daughters were out of the house and Em and Ron moved to Escondido.  In 2007, they joined Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church (RBCPC) where they participated in a small group and other programs making many cherished friends over these past 17 years.

Em's love of nature and her desire to visit with family and friends who lived outside of California prompted numerous RV trips across the contiguous forty-eight states and even a drive into Canada. In 2012, they joined the Pacific Trailer Club where Emily served as a Wagon Master for seven years. She loved traveling by RV and cherished their “time on the road” whether visiting with family and friends, meeting new friends, or enjoying the beautiful scenery. Emily drove the RV half the time and always wanted to drive first in the morning; Ron drove after lunch while Em napped.

In July 2020, with the Escondido house becoming too large to care for, they moved to Silvergate Rancho Bernardo (SRB) where they have enjoyed independent living with access to assistance whenever needed. They integrated easily into this community of caring residents by starting 3-13 card night on Mondays, streaming church services to the SRB theater on Sunday mornings and being part of the Welcome Wagon for new residents. Over the past few years, Emily was blessed by the tender loving care offered by the SRB Wellness Center staff as she received help with showering and dressing in order to ensure her safety and provide some peace of mind for Ron.

Emily was known for her bright, sparkling, contagious smile. She never met a stranger and connected readily with others, often engaging them with her sense of humor. She was also known for being highly energetic and exhibiting a bundle of energy as she “juggled a lot of balls” all at once. She could run circles around most when it came to the art of talking! With her “salt of the earth” midwestern spirit, Emily had a generous and welcoming heart, inviting many people into their home throughout the years. There was always room for one more at the family table and a freshly made bed for those who stayed for an extended period of time. Their home was a ‘’Home away from Home” to their daughters’ friends and she dearly loved the many “5th daughters” that she claimed to adopt over the years.

Emily joined the Church Triumphant on December 11, 2024. She was comfortable at home surrounded by both her earthly and heavenly family members --- the widest circle of love and joy ever as God called her to heaven! Emily is survived by her husband Ron of 68 years; four daughters Becky of San Diego; Deb (Sherry) of Greenbrier, AR; Denise (Jeff) of Pasadena, CA & Boise, ID; and Deanna (Steve) of Boise, ID; eight grandchildren Hannah (Chris), Noah, Isaiah, Luca, Matteo, Luisa, Lucy and Lilah; great grandchild Winifred Emily (her namesake and the light of her life these past two years!)  and godson Walt Voll of Sibley, Iowa. 

Interment will be at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden and Columbarium at 17010 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA  92128 followed by a Celebration of Life service on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 2 pm PST.  The service will be broadcast (and available for viewing later) at: https://youtube.com/live/e04Bh2EHXKQ

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to Elizabeth Hospice at: https://elizabethhospice.org/donate-now/support-us/  

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