Donald B. Hawkins' Obituary
Donald Bruce Hawkins of Federalsburg, Maryland passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, March 18, 2008. He was 89.
He was born in Walton, New York on December 22, 1918, son of the late William D. Hawkins and Pearl Schoonmaker Hawkins.
He graduated from Walton High School class of 1936. He continued his education at McAllister School of Embalming and became a licensed funeral director in 1940. He entered the United States Army Air Force in 1942 and was honorably discharged in 1945. He was a Tech Sergeant and was a radio operator and flying B17’s during the Battle of Normandy, the Battle of Northern France, and the Rhineland’s in Germany.
He married Margaret Henderson Smith on March 8, 1945 at Riverside Drive Church by Rev. Richard C. Halverson, D.D., a longtime chaplain of the US Senate. Donald and Margaret together owned and operated two funeral homes, on Long Island, the Lloyd Home in Bayside, NY, and the Williams Funeral Home in Flushing, NY. In 1972, he moved to Federalsburg and purchased Framptom Funeral Home and worked at the funeral home until his retirement. Mr. Hawkins passion was his work and he truly took pride and love in caring for the many families he had served over the years.
He had a heart for missions and wanted others to know about Christ. He had gone on several mission trips and that continued with his children and grandchildren going out into the mission field. For many years he also enjoyed restoring homes in the Federalsburg area.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Margaret, two children, Margaret “Janie” Eskow and her husband Mike, and Dr. John W. Hawkins,
all of Federalsburg, four granddaughters, Christy Coale and her husband Roman, of East New Market, Elizabeth Bortz and her husband, Ryan, of Edgewater, Dr. Rebecca McAteer of Valhalla, NY, Jessica McAteer of Boston, MA, two great-grandsons, Addison Coale and Morgan Bortz, a son-in-law, John McAteer of Mt. Bethel, PA, a special nephew, Mark VerValin of Baltimore, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Dr. Mary Ellen Hawkins-McAteer, a sister, Evelyn Walker, and a brother, Thomas Hawkins.
Funeral services for him will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Framptom Funeral Home in Federalsburg with Rev. Denzil Cheek officiating. Interment will follow at Hill Crest Cemetery in Federalsburg. Friends may call at the funeral home from 12-2 p.m. on Thursday.
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