John C. Hobbs, 81, of 313 Adolphus Street, Chester, first fire chief of the Chester Volunteer Fire Department, died Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hospital after a brief illness. He was born in New Manchester July 7, 1892, a son of Charles Hobbs and Joanna Scott Hobbs. He retired in 1961 as a partner in Hobbs Tire and Supply Inc., at Chester. AT one time, he also was associated with the former Chevrolet dealers in Chester. He was a past member of the Lions Club and belonged to the Chester Christian Church. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Doane Johnston Hobbs, at home; a son, C. Kenneth Hobbs of Bellevue, Pa.; four daughters, Mrs. Curtis (Georgia) Cook of Chester, Mrs. Don (Helen) Pinney of Phoenix, Ariz., Mrs. George (Joann) Scarry of Suffield Lake, Ohio and Mrs. Frederick (Jeanne) Frank of Washington, Pa.; two brothers, Cy Hobbs and Clayton Hobbs of Chester, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Services will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Arner Funeral Chapel in Chester. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, New Manchester. Friends may call at the chapel Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.