Posted 8:50 pm Wednesday, August 01, 2012
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Russell Hawkins Jr.
Russell David Hawkins Jr., 92, of Tyler passed away Sunday, July 29, 2012, at his residence. He was born Feb. 3, 1920, in Tyler to the late Russell Sr. and Annie Jewel McLendon Hawkins.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in the chapel of Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Doug Baker officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Russell served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and retired from the city of Tyler as chief building inspector after 50 years of service. He began his career with the city of Tyler in the fire department, where he served as fire inspector, assistant fire marshal, and acting city manager for several years.
He was a charter member and past president of the East Texas Municipal Inspectors Association. He was also a member of the Southern Building Code Congress, as well as, the National Fire Protection Association.
He played football for Tyler High School in 1938 when it won the state championship before graduating in 1939. Russell was a lifelong member of Marvin United Methodist Church of which he was a member of The Friendly Bible Class. Under Russell's leadership, the Wednesday Noon Laymen's Bible Study group was formed in the early '70s for men who worked downtown. The group still meets today. He was a member of the Tyler Masonic Lodge No. 1223 and was a Master Mason for more than 65 years.
Survivors include his son, Kim Hawkins and wife Tressa; granddaughter, Tiffany Hawkins; brothers, Jack Hawkins and Johnny Hawkins and wife Pat; sister, Ann McGuire and husband Joe; and cousin, Connie Hawkins. He was preceded in death by his wives, Margaret Burt Hawkins and Esther Moore Hawkins; son, James Russell “Hawk” Hawkins; brother, Leon Hawkins; sisters and brothers-in-law, Margie and Joe Roach and Melba and Bobbye Paine; sister-in-law, Colleen Hawkins; and cousin, Tommy Hawkins.
Pallbearers will be Don Hawkins, Sans Hawkins, Terry Hawkins, Kenneth Holley, David Roach, Alan Wilkerson, Bruce Bloch, Vern Broadus and Deal Folmar. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Wednesday Noon Laymen's Bible Study Group.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Marvin Menders, Marvin United Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin St., Tyler, 75702.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in the chapel of Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Doug Baker officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Russell served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and retired from the city of Tyler as chief building inspector after 50 years of service. He began his career with the city of Tyler in the fire department, where he served as fire inspector, assistant fire marshal, and acting city manager for several years.
He was a charter member and past president of the East Texas Municipal Inspectors Association. He was also a member of the Southern Building Code Congress, as well as, the National Fire Protection Association.
He played football for Tyler High School in 1938 when it won the state championship before graduating in 1939. Russell was a lifelong member of Marvin United Methodist Church of which he was a member of The Friendly Bible Class. Under Russell's leadership, the Wednesday Noon Laymen's Bible Study group was formed in the early '70s for men who worked downtown. The group still meets today. He was a member of the Tyler Masonic Lodge No. 1223 and was a Master Mason for more than 65 years.
Survivors include his son, Kim Hawkins and wife Tressa; granddaughter, Tiffany Hawkins; brothers, Jack Hawkins and Johnny Hawkins and wife Pat; sister, Ann McGuire and husband Joe; and cousin, Connie Hawkins. He was preceded in death by his wives, Margaret Burt Hawkins and Esther Moore Hawkins; son, James Russell “Hawk” Hawkins; brother, Leon Hawkins; sisters and brothers-in-law, Margie and Joe Roach and Melba and Bobbye Paine; sister-in-law, Colleen Hawkins; and cousin, Tommy Hawkins.
Pallbearers will be Don Hawkins, Sans Hawkins, Terry Hawkins, Kenneth Holley, David Roach, Alan Wilkerson, Bruce Bloch, Vern Broadus and Deal Folmar. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Wednesday Noon Laymen's Bible Study Group.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Marvin Menders, Marvin United Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin St., Tyler, 75702.
