William Hawkins, Jr.
May 24, 1926 — September 10, 2014
William L. “Bill” Hawkins, Jr, long-time resident of Catonsville, MD, passed away on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at Suburban Hospital in Norristown, PA.
Bill Hawkins was born on May 24, 1926 to William L. and Elvera Hawkins in the Brooklyn neighborhood of South Baltimore. In his youth, he often helped his father at the family-owned grocery store on Patapsaco Avenue in Brooklyn. He attended high school at City College, serving as president of the class of 1943. Bill was dedicated to his City College classmates and teachers and spent countless hours organizing class reunions and activities over the years. After graduating, he attended Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in Westminster, MD on a Senatorial Scholarship before joining the US Naval Officer training program. Training stops at University of Pennsylvania and Mount St. Mary’s followed before he was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy, serving on a subchaser in the South Atlantic from 1945-46. He was able to return to Western Maryland College in 1946, graduating with a degree in economics in 1948, and even more importantly, meeting the love of his life, Louise Sunderland Sapp. They were married in June, 1949.
After spending several years managing the family grocery store, Bill entered the life insurance business. He worked for almost 30 years for USF&G Life holding positions in the home and regional sales offices before retiring in 1986 as a corporate officer and Director of Sales and Marketing. In 1961, Bill moved his young family to Catonsville, Maryland, where he became a tireless volunteer for youth sports, organizing and coaching girls’ softball and basketball for over 40 years. Maryland State Delegate, Tom Dewberry, in presenting a citation from the House of Delegates called Bill the “father of girls' softball and basketball in Catonsville”. Bill Hawkins could always be found at the softball fields and basketball courts in the area, cheering, coaching, encouraging and talking with his girls. He received many awards and accolades for his efforts, and by order of the Baltimore County Executive, the softball fields at Catonsville Elementary School were named “Hawkins Field” in his honor in 1984. Bill was also dedicated member of Catonsville United Methodist Church, serving as president of the Men’s Club and the X, Y, Z (Xtra Years of Zest) Club for many years. He never met a stranger, and he always had a smile and an endless array of stories, jests, and put-ons that he used to fool and entertain young and old alike.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Louise Sunderland Sapp Hawkins, three brothers, John W. Hawkins, David N. Hawkins, and George F. (Jerry) Hawkins, and a son, Timothy A. Hawkins. He is survived by a son, William L. (Bill) Hawkins, III and wife Claire of Norristown, and two daughters, Nancy Butters and husband Michael of Dagsboro, DE, and Eleanor Cwirko and husband Edward of Kingsport, TN. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Arie Ellen Garrett and husband Tim, William L. Hawkins, IV and wife Erin, Timothy Butters, Julie Butters, Benjamin Cwirko, Eddie Cwirko, and Andrew Cwirko, and two great grandchildren, Lilly Hawkins and Owen Hawkins, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive visitors at Candelight funeral home from 4-7 pm on Wednesday, September 17. A funeral service will be held at Catonsville United Methodist Church at 10am on Thursday, September 18.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
Catonsville United Methodist Church 6 Melvin Ave. Catonsville Md. 21228 or to the William L. Hawkins Jr. and Louise S.(Sunny) Hawkins Scholarship Fund at McDaniel College 2 College Hill Westminster Md 21157-4390
Bill Hawkins was born on May 24, 1926 to William L. and Elvera Hawkins in the Brooklyn neighborhood of South Baltimore. In his youth, he often helped his father at the family-owned grocery store on Patapsaco Avenue in Brooklyn. He attended high school at City College, serving as president of the class of 1943. Bill was dedicated to his City College classmates and teachers and spent countless hours organizing class reunions and activities over the years. After graduating, he attended Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in Westminster, MD on a Senatorial Scholarship before joining the US Naval Officer training program. Training stops at University of Pennsylvania and Mount St. Mary’s followed before he was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy, serving on a subchaser in the South Atlantic from 1945-46. He was able to return to Western Maryland College in 1946, graduating with a degree in economics in 1948, and even more importantly, meeting the love of his life, Louise Sunderland Sapp. They were married in June, 1949.
After spending several years managing the family grocery store, Bill entered the life insurance business. He worked for almost 30 years for USF&G Life holding positions in the home and regional sales offices before retiring in 1986 as a corporate officer and Director of Sales and Marketing. In 1961, Bill moved his young family to Catonsville, Maryland, where he became a tireless volunteer for youth sports, organizing and coaching girls’ softball and basketball for over 40 years. Maryland State Delegate, Tom Dewberry, in presenting a citation from the House of Delegates called Bill the “father of girls' softball and basketball in Catonsville”. Bill Hawkins could always be found at the softball fields and basketball courts in the area, cheering, coaching, encouraging and talking with his girls. He received many awards and accolades for his efforts, and by order of the Baltimore County Executive, the softball fields at Catonsville Elementary School were named “Hawkins Field” in his honor in 1984. Bill was also dedicated member of Catonsville United Methodist Church, serving as president of the Men’s Club and the X, Y, Z (Xtra Years of Zest) Club for many years. He never met a stranger, and he always had a smile and an endless array of stories, jests, and put-ons that he used to fool and entertain young and old alike.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Louise Sunderland Sapp Hawkins, three brothers, John W. Hawkins, David N. Hawkins, and George F. (Jerry) Hawkins, and a son, Timothy A. Hawkins. He is survived by a son, William L. (Bill) Hawkins, III and wife Claire of Norristown, and two daughters, Nancy Butters and husband Michael of Dagsboro, DE, and Eleanor Cwirko and husband Edward of Kingsport, TN. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Arie Ellen Garrett and husband Tim, William L. Hawkins, IV and wife Erin, Timothy Butters, Julie Butters, Benjamin Cwirko, Eddie Cwirko, and Andrew Cwirko, and two great grandchildren, Lilly Hawkins and Owen Hawkins, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive visitors at Candelight funeral home from 4-7 pm on Wednesday, September 17. A funeral service will be held at Catonsville United Methodist Church at 10am on Thursday, September 18.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
Catonsville United Methodist Church 6 Melvin Ave. Catonsville Md. 21228 or to the William L. Hawkins Jr. and Louise S.(Sunny) Hawkins Scholarship Fund at McDaniel College 2 College Hill Westminster Md 21157-4390
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