Tommy Frank Hawkins, Jr.

Tommy Frank Hawkins, Jr. of Merritt Island, Florida passed away peacefully on August 15, 2024 at his home. He was born on August 27, 1954 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Tommy was 69 years old when we lost him to Pancreatic cancer. We Thank the Wuesthoff Brevard Hospice and Palliative Care group, Team Atlantis, for their kind, compassionate, patient and loving care of Tommy in his final days and hours.

Tommy served 21 years in the US Navy in the Submarine Force. He attained the rank of Senior Chief and was loved and respected for his dedication, passion, and humor by his shipmates. He served on the USS Drum and the USS Sea Devil and spent many days under the ice caps on the submarines doing what our country needed for our security. We thank all of his shipmates and Navy friends for their dedicated, honorable, and supreme sacrifice for the United States of America.

After retirement from the Navy, Tommy worked in the Newport News Shipyard building submarines and aircraft carriers. He then moved to Florida and worked at the Kennedy Space Center on the Shuttle Program. When the program ended, he began his own business, T & D Canvas in Merritt Island and he remained close to the boating community.

Between the work in Newport News and Florida, Tommy and Donna were cruisers on their 35' sailboat, Lotus. They returned to Florida after cruising the Bahamas. Then they purchased a 41' sailboat Mariposa which they prepared for cruising and lived aboard until leaving the Space program. They sailed to the Bahamas and the Chesapeake Bay until becoming dirt dwellers in a lovely home in Merritt Island, Florida. His passions for boating, sports cars, NASCAR, OU Football, and this country were with him always. He told me his only regret was having never gone to La Mans 24 hour race in France.....

Tommy is predeceased by his father, Tommy Frank Hawkins, Sr, of Broken Arrow, OK and his Father­-in-law, Roland Ray Rohrbach, originally from Pennsylvania. He is survived by his mother, Bertha Sue Rigney Hawkins living in Shawnee, OK. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Donna Jean Rohrbach Hawkins, in Merritt Island. He has a sister Lydia Frances "Fran" Hawkins Hisaw and her husband, Gary Joseph Hisaw from Valparaiso, Indiana. They have two children, Shay Robert Hisaw and Taylor Layne Hisaw Schroeder, recently married to Tyler James Schroeder. Tommy is survived by his Mother-in-law Mary Mitrisin Rohrbach in Merritt Island. His Sisters and Brothers-in-law are Donald and Karen Mohr of Pennsylvania and Robert and Miriam Rohrbach of Oklahoma City, OK. His nieces and nephews on Donna's side of the family are Ryan and Mary Rohrbach, Anthony and Katie Mohr, and Dawn and Andrew Valent.

A viewing will be held at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home in Merritt Island, FL on August 28,2024 for family from 4:30-5 and for all wishing to attend from 5-7 pm. The funeral will be held at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Merritt Island, FL on August 29th at 1O am presided over by Fr. John Giel. All are welcome to attend. Tommy will be buried at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, FL at 1:30 pm on August 29th {Case #10971238 on their website).

Tommy will be deeply, deeply missed by many friends and family members who loved him dearly.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/merritt-island-fl/tommyhawkins-11943895 for the Hawkins Family.