Robert Hawkins

ROBERT HAWKINS Tupelo - Lawrence Robert Hawkins, 84, died Monday, July 27, 2015, at Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford. A Nettleton native, he was born February 1, 1931, to Claude and Ozel Finnie Hawkins. Robert enlisted, September 27, 1951 on South Spring Street in Tupelo with close friends, Ralph Berryhill and James Finney. He was sworn in at Meridian, he then traveled to Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas for all his clothing. His basic training was at Sheppard Air Force Base Wichita, Texas. He received weapons training at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado. He served in Yokohama, Japan and Kobe, Japan. In 1953, he served in Korea. April 1953, he was transferred to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana until September of 1958, where he was transferred to Lowry Air Force Base Colorado for munitions training. In December of 1958, he went to EOD School in Indianhead, Maryland. He served 1959 until August of 1961 at Clarks Air Force Base in the Philippians. He then was transferred to Tinker Air Force Base Oklahoma where he served until November of 1964. At that time he was transferred to Columbus Air Force Base until reporting to Goose Bay Air Force Base in Labrador on January 1966. In August of 1968, he returned to the states where he was stationed at Blytheville Air Force Base in Arkansas until his retirement in 1971. At that time he and his family moved back home to Tupelo, where he worked for Holloway Painting. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2015 at the Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues. Graveside services will be at Liberty Cemetery. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements. Survivors include his four children, Robert L. Hawkins of Pearl, Don Hawkins of Hamilton, Terese Adair of Oxford and Wane Hawkins of Jackson; two sisters, Jean Holloway of Tupelo and Dot Pender (Billy) of Nettleton; one brother, Jimmy Hawkins of Blue Springs; five grandchildren, Lorie Adair Roberts (Scott) of Oxford, Reed Lawrence Hawkins (Amber) of Loxley, Alabama, James Donald (Ryan) of Starkville, Tony Hawkins (Ally) of Centennial, Colorado and Paul Hawkins (Katelyn) of Dallas, Texas and nine great-grandchildren, Olivia, Sam and Jack Roberts, Caden and Hayes Hawkins , Scout, River, Rowan and Ryder Hawkins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean Hawkins, one daughter, Elizabeth Denise Hawkins and one brother Charles Hawkins. Visitation will be 9 - 10 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2015 at W. E. Pegues, Tupelo. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .