WILLIAM FRANKLIN HAWKES
March 19, 1925-March 4, 2014
William F. Hawkes passed away March 4, 2014 at White Oaks Assisted Living in Lawton, MI. He was born March 19, 1925 in Cannelton, West Virginia to William T. (Wink) and Sarah (Stinnett) Hawkes. He graduated with a ministerial degree from Emanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University), Berrien Springs, Michigan.
In 1943, Bill joined the 124th Regimental Horse Calvary serving duty on the Mexican border. The next year, he was transferred to the 38th Calvary Reconnaissance Troop Mechanized, as part of the 38th Infantry Division. The unit served in New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon. After landing at Subic Bay, Bill led the first motorized patrol through enemy territory to link up the northern and southern troops which retook Bataan; thereafter the division was known as "The Avengers of Bataan". After the war ended, he volunteered to join with a major from General MacArthur's headquarters to scour the islands to talk the 150+ stray Japanese soldiers into surrendering. Bill Hawkes received the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, the Good Conduct, the Asiatic Pacific Combat with three battle stars, the Philippine Liberation medal, the World War II Victory medal and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Returning from the war, he converted and was baptized a Seventh-day Adventist, February 1946.
Elder Hawkes, as a missionary in Maracaibo, Venezuela (1953-1956), opened an English speaking church school for the oil workers' children and served as pastor at the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church. Returning to the United States, he was ordained and served as minister to SDA churches in Holland, MI; Lansing, MI; Charlotte/Eaton Rapids, MI; Petoskey, MI; Cumberland, MD; Parkersburg, WV; Columbus, IN; Kokomo, IN; Ft. Wayne, IN; and in retirement at the Inverness, FL church. He and his wife, Lois, relocated to White Oaks Assisted Living in Lawton, MI in 2011.
His marriage to Wilberta Weber Hawkes (d. 2010) ended in divorce.
On November 21, 1972 in Berrien Springs, MI, Bill was united in marriage to Lois Mae Briggs, who passed away July 31, 2011 following an illness. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Diana
Hawkes (1984), and a son, William W. Hawkes (2003). Surviving are five adult children: April Hawkes Noland of Alexandria, VA, Rebecca Hawkes of Hannibal, MO, James A. (Shari) Briggs III of Visalia, CA, Deborah S. Briggs of Penn Park, PA, and William J. (Bonnie) Briggs of Kalamazoo; seven adult grandchildren: (Diana) Jessica Mullens; (Rebecca) Tamoura (Adam) Thomas and Arabella (Nate) Martin; (Bill & Bonnie) Heather and J.J. Briggs; and (Jim & Shari) Thomas and Darhla Briggs and 12 great grandchildren.
Bill Hawkes will be buried later this year in Charleston, WV, alongside his parents and Lois.