Thomas R. Hawes of Columbus passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on September 27, 2019. The son of Doctor JK and Myrtle Hawes of Columbus, Tom graduated from Columbus High School in 1950, and Milligan College in 1954, where he earned a BA in Education. At Milligan, Tom served as Sr. Class President, King of the Mayday Festival, played tennis, swam, and sang in the choir.
After graduation, Tom enlisted in the US Army, and served his country in post-war Germany during the Korean War.
Upon returning home, Tom met Donna Jean Whitehouse, and they were married shortly thereafter on August 25, 1957. They moved to Tennessee, where Tom worked on his Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Tennessee, then to Kentucky where he coached swimming and tennis at Union College.
Tom and Donna moved back to Columbus in 1960. A job offer selling Remington Rand office products led to Tom founding Hawes Office Equipment, Inc. a year later. Tom grew the company over the years and outgrew three facilities in 42 years as a staple of the Columbus community. Along the way, he was a huge supporter of Columbus North High School athletics, serving for over 30 years on the football chain gang.
Tom was a lifetime member of First Christian Church, serving as Elder, Deacon, and in the choir. He was a member of St. John’s #20 Masonic Lodge, served on the hospital board, and the board of the Girl Scouts of America. He was most proud of his over 30 years on the Bartholomew County Park Board, retiring as President in 2015. He enjoyed camping, fishing, playing golf and tennis with his friends, and spending time with his grandchildren and their families. He never met a stranger, and spent his life helping family, friends and others throughout the county.
Tom is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna Jean (Whitehouse) Hawes, and his loving sons, T. Craig (Diane) Hawes, Doug (Susan) Hawes, and John Hawes, along with grandchildren Sarah Hawes, Lauren (John) Timm, Rachel Hawes, Sebastian Hawes, Hannah Hawes, Chassity (Michael) May, Amberly (Jon) Tappe, Caleb Hawes and Paige Hawes. He has two step grandchildren Tony and Angela Halberstadt and ten great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday October 2, 2019 at Hathaway-Myers Chapel, 1022 Pearl St, Columbus, Rev. Steve Yeaton officiating. Private burial with military honors accorded by the Bartholomew County Honor Guard will follow at Garland Brook Cemetery.
Visitation will also be on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to First Christian Church and Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.
Please leave an online condolence or special memory of Thomas at: www.Hathaway-Myers.com.
Hathaway-Myers Chapel is serving the Hawes family.
