Community members are invited to a drop-in 90th birthday celebration honoring Don Hawkins from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, in the McKee Community Room at Gentry Public Library.
"Your presence is our present but cards of memories will be appreciated, and refreshments will be served," said Terrie Chavez, a daughter of Hawkins.
Nathan Donald Hawkins was born Jan. 18, 1929, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Thomas (Tommy) and Thelma Cain Hawkins. He was one of six children, with three of them still alive. The family moved to Westlake, La., in 1932.
Hawkins served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1949 and was stationed at Guam, following WWII. At his request, he was transferred to the 11th Airborne, in Japan, where he served with the occupation forces and took his jump training to become a paratrooper.
In 1951, he married Dorothy Marie Raines, and they were married for almost 60 years. They have two children, Theresa (Terrie) Carol Hawkins Chavez and husband Leland, and Timothy Donald Hawkins, now deceased. He has three grandchildren, Jeremy Shane Oliver from Raleigh, N.C., Terra Dawn Grooters and husband Bernie of Gentry, and Hannah Marie Hawkins of Springdale.
He worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber for 23 years, retiring in 1979. In 1981, he moved to Arkansas and made Gentry his home.
He is now married to the former Sue Coppedge of Kansas, Okla. They enjoy playing dominoes, as well as being on a Wii bowling team at the Siloam Springs Senior Activity and Wellness Center, where they met. They are members of the JBU Health Complex and participate in chair and water aerobics. They attend Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Gentry.
Community on 01/16/2019