Roy B. Hawkins

Roy was a retired business agent for the Machinists Union and was a proud member for 62 years. Until recent years, he went to every union meeting and loved the camaraderie and friendships he had made over the years. He and mom traveled extensively after he retired, going to Alaska several times, to Austria, Belgium and other European countries and just about every state in the USA. He was an avid reader, loved his westerns, he loved to garden and grow his tomatoes and take care of the house that he built himself 57 years ago.

Dad served his country proudly during World War II in France and Germany from 1943 – 1945 and had many great stories to tell. I loved listening to him talk about his experiences. He and mom got married on March 1, one day after she turned 19 (her mother said she had to be at least 19 before she could get married) and 66 years later they were still there for each other. Their love for each other was so strong and dad was the best father and role model a daughter could have asked for. I will definitely miss our weekly Wednesday outings to Bel Air Bowl to have lunch with his brother, Earl, and watch him bowl. Dad was a pretty good bowler and had many “bowling buddies” that will be missed. Dad’s favorite pastime was dancing and he and my mom were the BEST. I use to call them Fred and Ginger! He was smooth as butter and would glide with mom across the floor like she was a feather. He taught George and me how to dance on Sunday afternoons in their living room. I will treasure those times forever. Dad, put on your shoes and dance away! I Love You.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Raleigh “Roy” and Iva, nee Blake, Hawkins; twin daughters, Carolyn and Marilyn; two brothers, Jesse Hawkins who was killed in World War II and Homer (Virginia) Hawkins; five sisters, Anne (Brown/Hamann) Wade, Elsie (Lyle) Lingafelter, Edna (Rex) Reeve/Carr, Twyla (Jim) Mills and Lyna King.

Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Allene, nee Alderfer, Hawkins; daughter, Kathy and his favorite son-in-law, George Bruner; brother, Earl (Mercedes) Hawkins; brother-in-law, Howard King; nieces and nephews, Stephen Hawkins, Stacey (Carl) Hawkins Walker, Sandra (Mark) Stein, Rick (Suzie) King, “Little” Howard King, Iva Short, Patty Wolf, Charlie (Bernice) Lingafelter, Eric Reeve, Glenn (Angela) Carr and Yvonne Green and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Memorials in Roy’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the Leukemia Foundation. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank the nurses on IMU at Anderson Hospital for their excellent care and compassion. A special thank you to Roula for the special care and attention that you have given, you will always be in my heart.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 from 4:00 – 8:00pm at the Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois

Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 10, 2012 at 10:30 am at the funeral home

Interment will be held in the Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Illinois

Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois