Winford Odell Hawkins

Odell was born in Olustee, Oklahoma on July 15, 1922 to Robert Lee and Zella Ethel West Hawkins. He spent his early life in Weatherford, Oklahoma on the family farm with four younger brothers (Alva, Peter Alexander (P.A.), Bobby, and Jerry) and older sister, (Joyce Thiessen); all of whom predeceased Odell except for Jerry (Mary). During World War II, he served in the Army Air Force in the India, China, Burma Theater. After the war, he entered the life insurance business, which took his family to Altus, Oklahoma, North Little Rock, Arkansas and Richardson, Texas until he retired in 1980.

Odell was an avid golfer and enjoyed teaching and playing the game with his seven grandsons. As a 32nd degree Mason, he was active as a Shriner where he assisted with fund-raising golf tournaments for the Scottish Rite Children’s Hospitals. During his retirement years, he traveled and played golf throughout the United States, England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Survivors include his three loving daughters: Linda (Jim) Rand, Brentwood, TN; Jan (Harry) Jacobson, Nashville, TN; and Marigay (Chris) Black, Garland, TX; eight grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank his caregivers for their extraordinary kindness and dedication to our father for the past several months: Emma, Lester, Warlita, Allison, Candice, and Sheila and to his very caring physician, Dr. Ralf Habermann.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2014 at three o’clock at Brentwood Baptist Church on Concord Road, Baskin Chapel, Entrance B, Brentwood, TN. A private burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Nashville.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 1900 Richmond Road, Lexington, KY 40502-1204 or to the American Red Cross (redcross.org/contact-us) is suggested.