Dwayne (Duke) Ross Hawkins left us to be with the Lord on Friday morning, June 18, 2021 at the blessed age of 90. Born in Stratton, Nebraska to Josephine and Ross Hawkins, he spent his youth in Trenton. Duke lived and worked on a family farm with his sisters Delores, Detta and Dottie, and his brother Don. He attended Trenton High School and was a valued member of the Football, Basketball, and Baseball teams. His best friend Wayne Porter was not only a teammate, but became a brother-in-law when he married Duke’s oldest sister Delores. After graduation he worked for a government soil testing lab associated with the building of the Trenton Dam. In 1951 he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. During a visit to a local church with his squadron buddies “in search of cute girls,” he was smitten with one gorgeous brunette, named Jeanette. The two were married on October 3, 1952.
After his discharge from the service, Dwayne went to work with Bell Telephone Company and from there moved to a position as a Communications Engineer with the Civil Service. Forty years later he retired, but his knowledge and expertise were desperately needed so he returned to work as a consultant for Martin Marietta, then SRS, and finally BD Systems.
Duke was a devout Christian and charter member of Rockledge United Methodist Church. He served as a lay leader, a Sunday school teacher, and a Board member as well as numerous other committees. He was a highly respected elder of the church. He also was a Mason for over 65 years.
Dwayne was a very humble man but took pride in his accomplishments as a husband and father. Putting family first, he always found time to sell Christmas trees or work the concession stand as a band parent, manage or coach baseball with the Rockledge and Eau Gallie Little Leagues, attend ball games, dance recitals, band and baton twirling competitions and still find time to fish.
He leaves behind his wife of sixty-eight years, Jeanette, his daughters Bobbie Hawkins, Deborah Lester (Fleet); his sons David (Lynne), and Dennis; his 6 grandchildren Brett (Jamie), Duke (Ashley), Amanda (Adam) Gutzwiller, Fleet, Candace (Zack) Haddock, and Dylan; and his “8” great-grandsons Jeffrey, Wyatt, Colton, Peyton, Hawkins, Fischer, Everett, and Jonas—who is on the way.
While his light on Earth has been extinguished, we know it is burning bright in heaven…so until we see you again.
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