Obituary of William Edward Hawkes

William "Bill" Edward Hawkes, age 70, of Mebane, NC, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at his home on February 3, 2016. Bill was born August 4, 1945 in Oxford, Maine; he was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, cousin, uncle and friend to many; he is survived by his loving wife Elouise Hawkes of the home. Bill graduated from Fletcher Academy, Fletcher, NC, in 1963 and then graduated from Mountain Sanitarium School of Nursing in 1966. After entering the US Army through the draft, Bill taught Medics at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. He served as a combat medic in Vietnam, where he received the Bronze Star Medal for his service. After his service to his country, Bill attended and graduated from Memorial Mission Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesiology in 1972 and worked as a Nurse for forty years. Bill loved the outdoors; he enjoyed hiking, back packing, camping, white water rafting, skiing, gardening and the beach. He served as an elder in his church and was a Pathfinder Leader for many years. He loved the youth programs in the church. After retirement, Bill and wife Elouise went to the Native village of Savoonga, Alaska through the church to work with suicide prevention programs; he had a passion for helping people and helped many disabled veterans get their benefits from the Veterans Affairs. Bill is survived by one son, William Hawkes, Jr. of Germany, one daughter, June Hawkes Shabazz of the home, three step sons, Thomas Bugbee, James Clay Rhodes and Brian Bugbee, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, February 7, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at Five Oaks Seventh Day Adventist Church in Durham, NC, Pastor Dexter Richardson and Pastor Jerry Mobley will officiate. His interment will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, February 8, 2016 at Seventh Day Adventist Memorial Cemetery in Morganton, NC. Visitation will be held at Walker's Funeral Home in Mebane on Saturday, February 6, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully request that memorial contributions be made to Savoonga SDA Church, in Savoonga Alaska for Savoonga Community Services, Alaska Conference of SDA 6100 O'Malley Rd. Anchorage, Ak, 99507, Att: Nita Larson Walker's Funeral Home, Mebane is in charge of Mr. Hawkes arrangements.