Benjamin Funeral Services: Nowata, OK........Charles Paul “Charlie” Hawkins, was born on December 4, 1935 in Watova, Oklahoma. He was seventh of nine children born to John S. and Lela M. Hawkins. Charlie attended grades 1-8 at Watova and then attend high school at Nowata where he graduated in 1954. After graduation from Nowata in 1954 Charlie went to work for Gordon Machine & Electric as an apprentice electrician/lineman. He loved the work, except for climbing poles in Kansas during the winter. Very cold! He worked at Williams Lumber Yard during the summer of 1953, and afternoons during 1953-1954 school year, as part of the Distributive Education Program. Charlie enlisted in Oklahoma National Guard June 6, 1954 and attended local drills and summer camps at Fort Bliss and Fort Hood, Texas. For the first 3 years he was assigned to Battery A, 145 AAA Battalion, (AW) (SP) 45th Division. In 1957, his unit was changed to Battery B, 2nd Howitzer BN, 160 Artillery. Charlie was Honorably discharged June 6, 1960 (SSGT-E6). He also attended NEO A&M at Miami, OK, fall semester of 1956 and participated in Air Force ROTC (required of men in the land-grant schools) while also serving in National Guard. He commuted to Coffeyville Junior College the next semester.
Charlie married Joyce David, June 14, 1957, and recently celebrated 61 years. The couple have three children, Steve, Paula and Roger. Charlie was employed by Williams Lumber Yard, again for 2 years. Then employed by Century Geophysical Corporation in 1959 in a Phillips Petroleum Project, transferred into Phillips in 1960, where he continued until retirement in 1997.
In Charlies’ words, “ I have been abundantly blessed, especially in living long enough to see our wonderful children grow up, and our special grandchildren almost grown, I’m extremely proud of them!”
Preceding him in death, siblings Mabel Bettes, Robert Hawkins, Mildred Hawkins, Mary Hawkins, Ruth Devin and Joan Mejia.
Charlie is survived by wife Joyce of the home, children Steve Hawkins and wife Tracy of Bartlesville, Paula Lowe and husband Rick of Nowata, Roger Hawkins and wife Sherry of Cave Springs, Ar. Grandchildren Clint Bland, Janice Hawkins, Megan Lowe, Kevin Lowe, Chandler Hawkins and Logan Hawkins, sister Sarah Thomason, Nowata, brother Bill Hawkins, Joplin and numerous nieces and nephews. Charlie was a spiritual leader of Hillside Christian Church.
Funeral services for Charles Paul Hawkins will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 8 at Hillside Christian Church with the Reverends Ben Killion and Van Longbons, officiating. Interment will be in Nowata Re-Located Cemetery under the direction of Benjamin Funeral Service. Visitation times are Wednesday - Friday, 9 a.m – 7 p.m. and the family will be present to greet friends at the funeral home, 5-7 p.m. on Friday. Those who wish may donate in Charles’ memory to the Hillside Christian Church Youth Ministry, 1348 West Davis Drive, Nowata, OK 74048. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com.

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