Dates
His circle of life complete, CMSgt (ret), USAF, Ronnie D. Hawkins, Sr, 87, of San Angelo, passed from this life and went to his home in heaven July 30, 2018. Though he left us in spirit many months ago, his body went peacefully into the Arms of The Lord. Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s robbed us of his final years, but we are left with memories of him as we knew him then.
Ronnie was born July 25, 1931 to Charles and Ruth Hawkins in Leavenworth Kansas. Ronnie married Loretta English; they were married for 53 years and had 5 children together.
Ronnie was a 1949 graduate of Leavenworth High School, and received his Bachelors of Business from Angelo State University.
Ronnie joined the Air Force August 12, 1949 and retired as a Chief MSgt on September 1, 1976. He served in Security Service (now known as Intelligence) in the Communications career field at various assignments to include Newfoundland, Pakistan, Alaska, and Texas. He was the first African American Chief Master Sergeant at Goodfellow AFB. He also served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Ronnie was ordained a Deacon, at St Paul Baptist Church in San Angelo, and served as Deacon Emeritus at Christian Fellowship Baptist Church where he was a member until his death.
Viewing will be from 5-6 p.m., on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, at Robert Massie Funeral Home, Services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, August 9th, at Christian Fellowship Baptist Church with his son, Rev. Ronnie D. Hawkins, Jr., officiating. Burial will be 1 p.m., Friday, August 10th, at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home.
Survivors include his children, Ronnie D. Hawkins, Jr. and wife Maria of San Angelo, Genevieve S. Mathis of Lewisville, Arthur D. Hawkins and wife Kimry of Lawton, Oklahoma, and Shawn L. Spell of Lewisville; two sisters, Fredonia Grissom of Leavenworth, Kansas and Drucilla Hawkins of Biloxi, Mississippi; 14 grandchildren, Ronnie D. Hawkins, III, Andrew L. Martin, Jr., Joshua Hawkins, Charles Hawkins, Vernon Hawkins, Justin Mathis, Loretta Mathis, Antonia Martin, Sydnee Spell, Ashley Spell, Chelsea Jackson, Ereka Genese, James Dudley Hawkins, and Christine Honesty; and 16 great grandchildren, Clayton Hawkins, Thomas Hawkins, Gabriella Hawkins, Elena Hawkins, Kyla Honesty, Camryn Honesty, Alexis Lacy, Ashlie Martin, Andrew Martin, III, Bryan Hawkins, Jeremiah Mathis, Ava Williams, Kimry Genese, Jaya Genese, Rosa’Lynn Martin, and Za’Kai Moody.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta Hawkins; a daughter, Roslyn Martin; his parents, Charles Hawkins and Ruth Roberts; his siblings, Charlene, Oczen, Maceo, Charles, and Plez; and two sons-in-law, Andrew Martin and Donald Spell.
The Hawkins family thanks the staff at The Springs Memory Care, Solaris Hospice Service, and Dr. Nussey at Shannon Medical Center for their loving care.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Ezra Vision Ministries, which is a ministry Ronnie supported by Sponsoring a Child: http://ezravisionministries.org/dir/donate .