James Dobson, conservative Christian activist and Focus on the Family founder, dies at 89

James Dobson, the influential conservative Christian therapist, author and radio personality who founded Focus on the Family, has died at the age of 89.

The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute announced Thursday morning that Dobson had passed away following a brief illness. He is survived by Shirley, his wife of 64 years, two children, and two grandchildren.

“Dr. Dobson was a pioneer — a man of deep conviction whose voice shaped the way generations view faith, family and culture,” said Gary Bauer, senior vice president of Public Policy at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, as quoted in the announcement.

“His bold leadership, integrity, and compassion helped equip countless families to thrive in a world of shifting values. He was a mentor, a counselor, and a steady voice of truth in turbulent times.”

Many individuals took to social media to give their condolences, among them conservative bestselling author and radio personality Eric Metaxas, who called Dobson “a hero.”

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Millions of Americans awakened Thursday morning to the news that Dr. James Dobson has departed to his heavenly reward at the age of 89. Dr. Dobson played a huge role in what he called the “Civil War of Values” in America from the 1970s until the present day.

Dr. Dobson was the son, grandson and great-grandson of Church of the Nazarene pastors. Dr. Dobson once shared with me a childhood memory of being called in from play by his father. His father sat the 10-year-old Dr. Dobson on his knee and told him to listen to the radio. The year was 1948, and the United Nations General Assembly was voting to establish the Jewish State of Israel. The senior Rev. Dobson told Dr. Dobson, “Jimmy, you are listening to the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.”

Out of that strong Evangelical background, Dr. Dobson received a doctorate in psychology from the University of Southern California and taught as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the USC School of Medicine. He also spent 17 years on the staff of the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. When the American Psychological Association “de-pathologized” homosexuality by removing it from its list of “mental disorders” in 1973, Dr. Dobson resigned in protest.

In 1976, Dr. Dobson took a sabbatical from USC and the Children’s Hospital, destined to never return. Instead, Dr. Dobson began to speak out on videos and radio and found a tremendous response among Evangelical parents across the country. He began the “Focus on the Family” radio program, which rapidly grew to be broadcast on 2,000 radio stations with 6- to 10 million daily listeners by the early 2000s.

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