Hawkins, Charles

29 Apr Hawkins, Charles

May 16th, 1932 – December 2nd

On the morning of Friday December 2nd, a great loss was suffered with the passing of Charles Benjamin Hawkins. Born May 16th, 1932 to Bradley and Hattie Hawkins of Woodfield, Maryland, Charlie was the youngest and last surviving of six children.

A graduate of Damascus High School, class of 1950, Charlie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1952. He served on the front lines of the Korean War for 13 months; his efforts overseas earning him several in-field promotions and a Purple Heart. Honorably discharged from military service at the rank of Sergeant, he returned home in 1955.

In 1956, Charlie was married to Joyce Riggs, the woman who would be his wife for the next 55 years. Together, they traveled extensively, seeing many foreign countries and, with setting foot in North Dakota last fall, all 50 states. Their home was lovingly made at Benjamin Square in Goshen, Maryland. There, they would raise their two sons, Carl and Frank, and later welcome daughter-in-law, Kari and two cherished grandsons, Will and Garrett. As a father and grandfather, Charlie was generous and careful in imparting the lessons of his know-how in his many areas of interest and expertise. Much pride was exhibited in his love of car- pentry and all things mechanical. An avid automotive and antique tractor collector, Charlie enjoyed participating in tractor pulls at the Montgomery County Fair, where he was a lifetime member.

Charlie was the president and owner of Hawkins Floor Company, which he started out of his garage in 1964. With the aim of providing quality service, he grew his business with the same meticulous care and attention he dedicated to all of his endeavors. Carl, his son, now runs the business out of Airpark in Gaithersburg, honoring the legacy his father built upon the time- honored principals of honesty, integrity, and good old- fashioned hard work.

A true craftsman, perfectionist, and one-of-kind character, Charlie prized above all the cultivation of lifelong loyal relationships with members of his family and his countless friends12/2