Barbara J. "Bobbie" Dirks

Dr. Barbara “Bobbie” Jeanne Dirks, a resident of Virginia City, died on July 25, 2023 of pulmonary aspergillosis, five years after bravely and successfully beating malignant melanoma.

She was born in Jersey City, NJ, on November 10th, 1943, to Edward and Jewel Dirks, a chemical engineer, and a nurse. Seven years later, they welcomed her only sibling, Karen Eileen Dirks. Bobbie graduated at the age of seventeen from Haddonfield Township High School and continued her pursuit of higher education at Moravian College, graduating in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science. There, she met and married her first husband, a naval officer who was stationed in Hawaii and then deployed during the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, in Hawaii awaiting his return, Bobbie attained certification and employment as a civilian laboratory technician at Tripler Hospital. It was there where she first met her future husband of 35 years, Ronald Moyer.

While on Oahu, Bobbie continued her education in 1971 at the University of Hawaii, Manoa with graduate studies in Immunology, Genetics, and Clinical Medicine. After her first husband was lost at sea, Bobbie moved to Maui and opened the first laboratory on the island with Ronald Moyer and two other friends.

Eventually, Bobbie and Ron fell in love over their shared passions for animals, people, and philanthropy. They moved to Oregon, where she graduated with her degree in Optometry from Pacific University in 1982. As a dyslexic herself, Bobbie stumbled upon Vision Training (an adjunctive therapy for learning disabilities, dyslexia, and ADHD) in her search for answers, and decided to pursue a master’s degree in education, which she received in 1986 from Pacific University. Meanwhile, she helped support Ron as he attended veterinary school, as an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Optometry in the College of Optometry at the Pacific University from 1982-1986.

In 1983, Bobbie’s younger sister, Karen, passed away, leaving a daughter, Aubrie, whom she and Ron took custody of in 1985. Bobbie and Ron married in 1986, and moved back to Hawaii, first to the island of Oahu. They adopted Aubrie in 1989. Their dreams of returning to Maui were realized when Bobbie was offered a position as Head of Optometry for Kaiser Permanente, Maui County in 1988. As an optometrist, Bobbie had become one of the most sought-after doctors dealing in Vision Training. She traveled the country lecturing and built her clientele after hours while working for Kaiser.

Bobbie pursued her passion of helping children with learning disabilities. She tutored kids through Sylvan Learning Center and eventually, after retiring from optometry, opened the Learning Hui on Maui, which catered to kids with learning disabilities. Through all her endeavors, Bobbie never stopped thinking of others. Together with Ron, they became members of the Board at East Maui Animal Refuge. They raised funds, volunteered, and did whatever was necessary to make the world a better place. At Ron’s veterinary practice, they treated thousands of animals of all kinds, and adopted many of them that needed special care.

A passionate horse lover, Bobbie owned a number of horses over the years, many of them Arabians. She was an accomplished rider and worked several summers as a wrangler at Canyon Lodge outside of Yellowstone National Park in the late 1990’s while still a Hawaii resident.

Her love of the great outdoors and the West led her to work for several summers at Yellowstone National Park as well, where her lifelong thirst for knowledge led her to learn everything she could about the park. During one of these summers, Bobbie visited Virginia City and soon began spending summers working as a docent for Montana Heritage Commission’s Living History program. When the 1910 Baldwin steam locomotive arrived in town, her love of trains made this an opportunity she could not resist. After becoming licensed in all the intricacies of safely running a steam engine, Bobbie became the trusted engineer of the large historic engine that was used in the early 2000’s in Virginia City. Not long after experiencing Virginia City life, she began to build her cabin on the north side of town.

Bobbie became a fulltime resident of Virginia City in 2006. Immediately, she leaned into volunteering wherever she was needed. She was active in the Vigilance Club, the Elks Lodge 390, the Elling House Arts & Humanities Center, the Virginia City Preservation Alliance, and the Friends of the Library. She was the chair of the Virginia City Planning & Zoning Board, volunteer director of the Thompson Hickman Museum, and chair of the Easter Egg Hunt and Children’s Fishing Derby for many years. She and Ruth Hauri ran the City Bakery in town for several years. In 2005, she received a Call to Service award from the U.S. President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. In addition, she served on the State of Hawaii Board of Examiners in Optometry for over two decades. Beyond those public contributions, Bobbie was a friend to all in the community. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas she hosted what was affectionately called the Orphans dinner, inviting all in town, who might not have family nearby to gather with, to join in a fabulous potluck at her home. At every function with refreshments, she generously baked or cooked something amazing. She also regularly made dinner for the volunteer fire department meetings. Bobbie’s imprint on the community was incredibly broad, and her death leaves a void. She will be profoundly missed.

Bobbie is survived by her daughter, Aubrie Dirks-Moyer, and her grandchildren, Theodore Amari Owens, Independence Noelani Bridgman, and Dierks Ronald Robert Bridgman, and a myriad of cousins. In addition, she leaves her beloved cat Bert, very close family friends Hannah Clark, Karen and Kevin Schoenecker, and her extended Virginia City family. She is predeceased by her sister Karen, her husband Ron, her parents, and a small army of cats, dogs, and horses that she loved.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Sunday, August 20th at the Elks Lodge 390 from 3-5 p.m. in Virginia City. Donations may be made to East Maui Animal Refuge, 25 Maluaina Place, Haiku, HI 96708 or <https://www.eastmauianimalrefuge.org/> or to the Vigilance Club, PO Box 293, Virginia City, MT 59755 to support the Thompson-Hickman Museum.