Paul Hawkes

PENN YAN - Paul Hawkes, 89, of Penn Yan, N.Y., passed peacefully on February 5, 2021, in his home.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday (February 10) at Weldon Funeral Home, 102 E. Main St., Penn Yan. A funeral service will immediately follow at 6:00 p.m. An after-service memorial will be held at the Penn Yan Elks Lodge, where Paul was an active member for 52 years. His burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Ontario-Yates Hospice or Family House of Pittsburgh. In honor of Paul, please become an organ donor.

A native of Little Genesee, N.Y., he moved to Penn Yan in 1955, where he met and married his much loved wife of 65 years, Elaine. Paul was known for both his love of vintage autos, especially Fords, and for his gift of gab. Every person he met was a new friend.

Many benefited from Paul's skill with all manner of hand and power tools, his long-time employer Coach and Equipment and the countless schoolchildren who rode the school busses he helped build; his family who grew up in the house he renovated and expanded; and his children who could always count on Paul to know how to fix a leaky faucet, diagnose a car engine sound, or repair a front porch. After 34 years, three factory locations, and hundreds of busses, Paul retired due to health issues. His family is grateful to have had Paul an extra 25 years following his heart transplant in 1995 and for the generosity of the family of Melanie Rae Benson. Family and friends will deeply miss Paul's kindness, his unrelenting strength in the face of adversity, and his smile.

Paul is survived by his wife, Elaine; children Timothy Hawkes of Cape Coral, Fla., Bruce (Dawn) Hawkes of Caledonia, N.Y., and Amy Hawkes of Naples, Fla.; and grandchildren Justin Ritter, Ashley Ritter, Kyla Reeder and Erica Hawkes of south Fla., Claire Hawkes of Seattle, Wash., Nathan Hawkes of Caledonia, N.Y., and foster granddaughter, Jennifer Layton.

He was predeceased by his parents George and Lucille Hawkes; brother, Donald (Gin) Hawkes; sisters Joyce (Arthur) Pinney and Jo Ann (Robert) Heimel; close friend, Dale Pielow; and countless woodchucks behind the family home.

Expressions of sympathy or memories may be left online in his obituary at www.WeldonFuneralHome.com