James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, dead at 89
News | By Easton Martin | August 21, 2025
James Dobson, founder of the influential ministry Focus on the Family, has died at age 89 at his home in Colorado Springs. The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute confirmed his passing on August 21, 2025.
A trained child psychologist, Dobson began his national outreach with a Christian parenting radio show before establishing Focus on the Family in 1977. The organization grew into a major evangelical media and political influence, shaping Christian engagement in American culture.
Dobson authored more than 70 books on parenting, marriage, and family life. Titles such as The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense became staples in many Christian households. His broadcast outreach reached millions through radio and print, providing guidance for families across the country.
He served as an informal advisor to multiple U.S. presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump. After stepping down from Focus on the Family in 2010, he founded the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute to continue his radio and counseling work.
Dobson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, their children, and grandchildren. He is remembered for shaping evangelical Christian culture and for leaving a lasting legacy in faith and family life.
Image : By David Shankbone – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3785840
