Joe Wayne Hawkins' Obituary
Joe Wayne Hawkins passed comfortably in his sleep on December 13, 2013, leaving behind Frances, his loving wife of 34 years; his children, Eric Hawkins (Monica), Jill Walsh (Drew); grandchildren, Kyle and Devin Walsh; his sister, Martha Rutherford (Gary); two stepsons, Michael Nate and Robert Nate; and a nephew, Michael Ferguson (Robin); and many cousins.Joe Wayne was the son of Wilma and Joe Hawkins born on December 6, 1937 in Selmer, TN. The family soon afterwards moved to Jackson, TN where he lived until moving to Memphis, to attend the Southern College of Optometry. After graduating from Optometry school, he joined the Army and was privileged to be assigned to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC. During his military career he practiced in Italy, where his two children, Eric and Jill, were born. He had a post of duty in Korea and several posts in the United States finally retiring in San Antonio, TX where he and Frances made their home and he practiced optometry until recent years.Joe Wayne will be remembered as a kind and gentle man who loved life and lived it to the fullest spending time with his family, playing golf, reading and traveling with Frances. All who knew and loved him will miss him.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, (901)767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”The family will hold a private service with entombment in Memorial Park Mausoleum.
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