Fred Hawkins, beloved husband, father, uncle and friend died peacefully on Thursday July 10, 2014 at Elizabeth House in Hendersonville, NC. He was born January 20, 1922 in Greenville, South Carolina to Jessie Mace Hawkins and James Marvin Hawkins. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Reverend James Marion Hawkins and James Marvin Hawkens, Jr. and a sister Blanche Hawkins Brockwell.
Fred grew up in Marion, NC. attended Crossnore School and later moved to Hendersonville High School in 1942. He joined the ARMY AIR CORPS after high school and served in the EIGHTH AIR FORCE in England for four years. He attended college on the GI bill and graduated from Elon University and obtained a Master's of Education degree from The University of North Carolina. For many years he was a pharmaceutical salesman for Glaxo Smith Kline. He retired from pharmaceutical sales and opened one of the first of its kind, successful medical equipment business in Durham in 1975. He sold the business in 1991 and moved back to the mountains he dearly loved. Fred met and married his beloved wife, Billie Lavender Hawkins of 16 years. He was a proud citizen of Hendersonville where he was a member of the Golden Kiwanis Club and enjoyed many Tuesday morning breakfasts at "Pop" (resturant) with his Kiwanis Club buddies. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the Historical Society as well as the Four Seasons Hospice Companion program. Fred was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Roy Johnson Sunday School Class.
Fred was proud of his dry "mountain sense of humor". He was an optimist to the end and lead a good, long life bringing joy and laughter to everyone he met. He was always full of life and ready to try new challenges with good will, good effort and good cheer. He was a devoted father. He will be missed by many. Survivors include his wife, Billie Lavender Hawkins, of Hendersonville; children Phillip Edward Hawkins of Fresno California, Karen Hawkins Gillette and her husband Phillip of Cutchogue, NY and Brian Scott Hawkins and his wife, Ninette of Kerrville, TX. Step children Sandra Burger of Hendersonville, Lorrie and Steve Gitz of Illinois, and Myrna and Richard Fant of Washington. He is also survived by step children Warden Best and wife Pam of Overland Kansas, Susan Best Wilson and her husband Douglas of Stephensville, MI, and Eric Best and his wife Joanne of Annapolis MD.
A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville on Monday, July 14 at 1 p.m. A private burial will take place at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Durham.
Thos.Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors:
Fred grew up in Marion, NC. attended Crossnore School and later moved to Hendersonville High School in 1942. He joined the ARMY AIR CORPS after high school and served in the EIGHTH AIR FORCE in England for four years. He attended college on the GI bill and graduated from Elon University and obtained a Master's of Education degree from The University of North Carolina. For many years he was a pharmaceutical salesman for Glaxo Smith Kline. He retired from pharmaceutical sales and opened one of the first of its kind, successful medical equipment business in Durham in 1975. He sold the business in 1991 and moved back to the mountains he dearly loved. Fred met and married his beloved wife, Billie Lavender Hawkins of 16 years. He was a proud citizen of Hendersonville where he was a member of the Golden Kiwanis Club and enjoyed many Tuesday morning breakfasts at "Pop" (resturant) with his Kiwanis Club buddies. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the Historical Society as well as the Four Seasons Hospice Companion program. Fred was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Roy Johnson Sunday School Class.
Fred was proud of his dry "mountain sense of humor". He was an optimist to the end and lead a good, long life bringing joy and laughter to everyone he met. He was always full of life and ready to try new challenges with good will, good effort and good cheer. He was a devoted father. He will be missed by many. Survivors include his wife, Billie Lavender Hawkins, of Hendersonville; children Phillip Edward Hawkins of Fresno California, Karen Hawkins Gillette and her husband Phillip of Cutchogue, NY and Brian Scott Hawkins and his wife, Ninette of Kerrville, TX. Step children Sandra Burger of Hendersonville, Lorrie and Steve Gitz of Illinois, and Myrna and Richard Fant of Washington. He is also survived by step children Warden Best and wife Pam of Overland Kansas, Susan Best Wilson and her husband Douglas of Stephensville, MI, and Eric Best and his wife Joanne of Annapolis MD.
A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville on Monday, July 14 at 1 p.m. A private burial will take place at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Durham.
Thos.Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors:
Fred Hawkins, beloved husband, father, uncle and friend died peacefully on Thursday July 10, 2014 at Elizabeth House in Hendersonville, NC. He was born January 20, 1922 in Greenville, South Carolina to Jessie Mace Hawkins and James Marvin Hawkins. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Reverend James Marion Hawkins and James Marvin Hawkens, Jr. and a sister Blanche Hawkins Brockwell.
Fred grew up in Marion, NC. attended Crossnore School and later moved to Hendersonville High School in 1942. He joined the ARMY AIR CORPS after high school and served in the EIGHTH AIR FORCE in England for four years. He attended college on the GI bill and graduated from Elon University and obtained a Master's of Education degree from The University of North Carolina. For many years he was a pharmaceutical salesman for Glaxo Smith Kline. He retired from pharmaceutical sales and opened one of the first of its kind, successful medical equipment business in Durham in 1975. He sold the business in 1991 and moved back to the mountains he dearly loved. Fred met and married his beloved wife, Billie Lavender Hawkins of 16 years. He was a proud citizen of Hendersonville where he was a member of the Golden Kiwanis Club and enjoyed many Tuesday morning breakfasts at "Pop" (resturant) with his Kiwanis Club buddies. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the Historical Society as well as the Four Seasons Hospice Companion program. Fred was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Roy Johnson Sunday School Class.
Fred was proud of his dry "mountain sense of humor". He was an optimist to the end and lead a good, long life bringing joy and laughter to everyone he met. He was always full of life and ready to try new challenges with good will, good effort and good cheer. He was a devoted father. He will be missed by many. Survivors include his wife, Billie Lavender Hawkins, of Hendersonville; children Phillip Edward Hawkins of Fresno California, Karen Hawkins Gillette and her husband Phillip of Cutchogue, NY and Brian Scott Hawkins and his wife, Ninette of Kerrville, TX. Step children Sandra Burger of Hendersonville, Lorrie and Steve Gitz of Illinois, and Myrna and Richard Fant of Washington. He is also survived by step children Warden Best and wife Pam of Overland Kansas, Susan Best Wilson and her husband Douglas of Stephensville, MI, and Eric Best and his wife Joanne of Annapolis MD.
A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville on Monday, July 14 at 1 p.m. A private burial will take place at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Durham.
Thos.Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors:
Fred grew up in Marion, NC. attended Crossnore School and later moved to Hendersonville High School in 1942. He joined the ARMY AIR CORPS after high school and served in the EIGHTH AIR FORCE in England for four years. He attended college on the GI bill and graduated from Elon University and obtained a Master's of Education degree from The University of North Carolina. For many years he was a pharmaceutical salesman for Glaxo Smith Kline. He retired from pharmaceutical sales and opened one of the first of its kind, successful medical equipment business in Durham in 1975. He sold the business in 1991 and moved back to the mountains he dearly loved. Fred met and married his beloved wife, Billie Lavender Hawkins of 16 years. He was a proud citizen of Hendersonville where he was a member of the Golden Kiwanis Club and enjoyed many Tuesday morning breakfasts at "Pop" (resturant) with his Kiwanis Club buddies. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the Historical Society as well as the Four Seasons Hospice Companion program. Fred was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Roy Johnson Sunday School Class.
Fred was proud of his dry "mountain sense of humor". He was an optimist to the end and lead a good, long life bringing joy and laughter to everyone he met. He was always full of life and ready to try new challenges with good will, good effort and good cheer. He was a devoted father. He will be missed by many. Survivors include his wife, Billie Lavender Hawkins, of Hendersonville; children Phillip Edward Hawkins of Fresno California, Karen Hawkins Gillette and her husband Phillip of Cutchogue, NY and Brian Scott Hawkins and his wife, Ninette of Kerrville, TX. Step children Sandra Burger of Hendersonville, Lorrie and Steve Gitz of Illinois, and Myrna and Richard Fant of Washington. He is also survived by step children Warden Best and wife Pam of Overland Kansas, Susan Best Wilson and her husband Douglas of Stephensville, MI, and Eric Best and his wife Joanne of Annapolis MD.
A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville on Monday, July 14 at 1 p.m. A private burial will take place at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Durham.
Thos.Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors:
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