Obituary for Joe Paul Hawkins
Joe Hawkins of Alma was born on February 16, 1924, to Elijah and Ida Hawkins. He was a life long resident of Alma and passed away June 30th at the age of 95. He was a veteran of World War II having served in the Air Force where he flew over 50 missions aboard a B-24 Bomber. Upon discharge from his service he returned to Alma where he met and married Freda (Molder). Joe was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Alma where he served for many years on the finance committee. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier. Joe was elected to the Alma City Council and later elected as Mayor of Alma. He was also elected to the Alma School Board where he served as President. He was a member of the Alma Volunteer Fire Department and retired as Chief. Joe volunteered several years for the Arkansas Game and Fish Department as a Hunter’s Education instructor. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Elijah and Ida Hawkins, sisters Agnes, Elizabeth, Letha, and Christine; bothers Ray, Julian, and Warren.
He loved to crappie fish and play dominos with his buddies. When he was not crappie fishing or working, he and Freda could be found in the garden tending to their vegetables. But most of all he loved his family.
He is survived by his wife of over 73 years, Freda; one daughter and son-in-law, Lynda and Tommy Lovegrove of Tulsa; one son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Dixie Hawkins of Fort Smith; four grandchildren and their spouses, Lauryn and Steve Cherrington, Tara and Ryan Jackson, Jason and Erin Hawkins and Bryan Hawkins; six great grandchildren, Brayden, Ashtyn and Avery Cherrington, Emma and Ethan Jackson and Rhyan Hawkins. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Ada Chastain and his brother-in-law Hobart Molder as well as several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 5, 2019 at Alma First Baptist Church with interment in Alma City Cemetery with Military Honors under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.
The family will visit with friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at Ocker Funeral Home of Alma, 917 Hwy. 64 East, Alma, AR.
Pallbearers will be Jason and Bryan Hawkins, Steve Cherrington, Ryan Jackson, Brayden Cherrington, Ethan Jackson and Mark Whitaker.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Alma, Children’s Van Ministry, P.O. Box 819, Alma, AR 72921.
He loved to crappie fish and play dominos with his buddies. When he was not crappie fishing or working, he and Freda could be found in the garden tending to their vegetables. But most of all he loved his family.
He is survived by his wife of over 73 years, Freda; one daughter and son-in-law, Lynda and Tommy Lovegrove of Tulsa; one son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Dixie Hawkins of Fort Smith; four grandchildren and their spouses, Lauryn and Steve Cherrington, Tara and Ryan Jackson, Jason and Erin Hawkins and Bryan Hawkins; six great grandchildren, Brayden, Ashtyn and Avery Cherrington, Emma and Ethan Jackson and Rhyan Hawkins. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Ada Chastain and his brother-in-law Hobart Molder as well as several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 5, 2019 at Alma First Baptist Church with interment in Alma City Cemetery with Military Honors under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.
The family will visit with friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at Ocker Funeral Home of Alma, 917 Hwy. 64 East, Alma, AR.
Pallbearers will be Jason and Bryan Hawkins, Steve Cherrington, Ryan Jackson, Brayden Cherrington, Ethan Jackson and Mark Whitaker.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Alma, Children’s Van Ministry, P.O. Box 819, Alma, AR 72921.