Beyond his broadcasting work, Dobson authored over 70 books on marriage, parenting, and spiritual life. Notable titles such as The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense sold millions of copies and became widely used by families, churches, and schools. His writings often warned against societal trends he viewed as threats to traditional family life, including pornography, gambling, and declining church participation. He also promoted abstinence education, efforts to reduce teen pregnancy, and the sanctity of life from conception.
After leaving Focus on the Family in 2010, Dobson founded the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. While smaller in scope, the JDFI continued his mission of promoting gospel-centered values through radio, digital outreach, and public policy advocacy.
Dobson’s influence extended into politics, advising five U.S. presidents, including George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump. He served on Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, connecting conservative Christian communities to the White House and shaping debates on religious liberty and moral policy.
Generations credit Dobson with strengthening marriages, guiding parents, and providing spiritual counsel in times of crisis. His legacy is defined by decades of tireless work to uphold what he considered timeless truths about faith and family.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, their two children, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute described his passing as “the close of a remarkable chapter in American Christian life,” adding that his influence “will continue to ripple through churches, families, and communities for decades to come.”
