Howard Lee Hawkins' Obituary
Howard Lee Hawkins, 95, devoted husband, father and grandfather, peacefully transitioned on August 15, 2024, at home in Kansas City, Missouri, surrounded by family.
Howard was born on September 16, 1928, to Charles and Ila Hawkins in St. Louis, Missouri. He loved the outdoors, and he and his brother, Orville, spent most of their childhood on the family farm in Central Missouri. After Howard graduated from high school in El Dorado Springs, he served two years in the Army during the Korean War, then attended electronics school in Kansas City, Missouri.
In February 1955, Howard met Carol King in Kansas City. Married on July 16, 1955, they would be blessed with four children: Pamela, Randall, Susan and Phillip. Their 69-year marriage was rooted in love and made strong by their faith and commitment to each other and to the family they created. A genuine partnership, their marriage was lauded by many among their large extended family and friends as an example of a strong marriage and unbreakable vows. Howard's own inner strength and character, his determination and practicality grew along with his family. These, together with Carol's faith and loving, generous nature, made it possible for the two of them to face life's challenges, including two parents' greatest challenge, the loss of their teenage son in 1976. Their mutual resilience in a time of tragedy made them a support for one another as well as for Randy's brother and sisters and his multitude of friends. Throughout their lives together, they extended this same strong support to friends, relatives and their church community, when and wherever it was needed. The terms courage and a strong backbone describe Howard to a T. He was always "there" when anyone needed him.
As newlyweds, they moved to Indiana where he worked for General Motors and began attending Purdue University at night, studying electrical engineering. Five years later, the young family moved to Tulsa where Howard spent the next 31 years as an avionics mechanic for American Airlines.
However, his priority was always his family. He loved his wife like crazy, writing her love letters and notes through the years. He taught his children self-reliance, hard work and independent thinking. And his grandchildren, many nieces and nephews loved spending time with him for heartfelt companionship and in-depth, often humorous, conversations.
In 1990 Howard retired and moved with his wife to the family farm in Central Missouri where his brother also retired. He spent the next 20 winters in South Texas with his wife, brother, brother-in-law, and sisters-in-law, where they became Winter Texans, fishing in the Gulf and enjoying retiree fun. Howard was regularly a state champion bowler in the Senior Olympics which qualified him for national competition. In 2003, he won the gold in bowling mixed doubles.
Throughout his life, Howard was active, and he always rose to a challenge. Earlier in life, he played on the church softball team with both his sons and continued to play until he was 62. From his 50s to his 70s, to join in his children's adventures, he tried snow skiing, scuba diving, went rafting on the Colorado River, and even went tubing with his grandchildren at age 80. Howard was also an avid reader, and one of his favorite pastimes was sitting quietly in nature near a creek, particularly on his farm, leaning against a log while reading.
Howard volunteered his electrical and mechanical talents to help friends, neighbors, the church, and during retirement, random South Texas businesses. He genuinely enjoyed using his talents to help others and never expected anything in return.
In 2015, Howard moved away from the family farm, under protest, to Kansas City, where he spent his last years getting to know and entertaining new neighbors with his wit. A special thanks to one very special neighbor, Kara Wineinger, who offered friendship and support to Howard and Carol during some of their later health challenges.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Ila Hawkins, his brother Orville, and his son Randall Lee. He is survived by: his wife Carol; his children, Pamela Lack and her husband John, Susan McGannon and Phillip Hawkins; his grandchildren, Randall Morrow and his wife Bertha, Clare Johnson and her husband Jack, Emily McGannon, and Grace McGannon; great-grandchildren, Emma Taylor, Olivia Morrow and Monse Speedon, and by many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Community of Christ (Contemporary Christian Center – CCC) in Tulsa on August 24 at 11:30 a.m. with a 10:30 a.m. visitation. Lunch will be served at the church immediately following the ceremony. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Floral Haven, 6900 South 129th East Avenue, Tulsa.
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