Robert G Hawkins

On December 22, 2011 Bob Hawkins died peacefully in his sleep, at the age of 82.

He was born June 25, 1929 to Mary nee Norvell and Glenn Hawkins, both deceased. He was a life-long resident of Akron. He graduated from West High School and received his BA in Psychology from Kent State University.

In 1951, Bob entered the United States Marine Corps and served in Japan and South Korea, during the Korean Conflict. He became a Major in the Reserves where he continued to serve until 1963 but he remained a Marine up to his death. In fact, the Marine Corps was vitally important to him. His girls were required to say ``Semper Fidelis' before learning any other words and before learning to walk they were required to sing the Marine Corps hymn from start to finish.

In his teens, Bob became a camp counselor at the Akron YMCA's Camp-Y-Noah. This would prove to be the beginning of a life-long love affair with the Y and was certainly the inspiration for what would be a life dedicated to others. Bob eventually became camp director at Camp-Y-Noah and stayed with the Y until his early 40s when he accepted a position as Vice-President of Goodyear Bank. His work at the bank led to a career in advertising at Taylor-Protherow which eventually became Taylor-Hawkins Advertising. Following the death of his wife of 38 years, Mary Anne Hawkins nee Irvin, Bob retired from the agency and returned to the Y to assist with its capital campaigns.

Bob did not have hobbies. He didn't golf or hunt. He spent his free time doing laundry. He really liked to do laundry and has passed his meticulous techniques on to his two daughters. Mostly though, Bob spent his time giving back to the community he loved so much. Notwithstanding his foray into banking and advertising, he remained a common fixture on the board of Camp-Y-Noah and the Akron Y. He was past-president of East Akron Kiwanis and Fairlawn Kiwanis Clubs. He served as treasurer for St. Paul's Episcopal Church and also served on its vestry. He also served on the finance committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. In 2000, Bob was honored with the Y's Service to Youth award.

Bob leaves a void for so many people: his wife, Roberta ``Bobbie'; his daughters, Elizabeth Bill Crosby and Margaret Dan Birmingham; step-daughters, Christine Russell Gordon and Kara Michael Shulman; grandchildren, Madeleine and Will Crosby and Eric and Ellen Birmingham; step-grandchildren, Ted, Caroline and George Gordon; and great-grandson, Riley Crosby-Scoville. He also leaves his dear friends, Jimmy, Dan, Fred, Phil and so many others.

The family will receive visitors at the Billow Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., on Monday, December 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. Services will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in the Firestone Chapel on Tuesday, December 27 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the church. Memorials may be made to the Akron YMCA, 209 S. Main St., Akron 44236 or to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1361 W. Market St., Akron, Ohio 44313.

Semper Fi Bob. BH 30.