Robert Hankins

1938 - 2021

Robert Hankins
March 3, 1938 - January 31, 2021
Miami, Florida - Robert Wayne "Bud" Hankins, born March 3, 1938 in Knoxville, Tenn., died on January 31, 2021 at his home in Miami. Bud married the love of his life, Evelyn Ruth Posey Hankins, on January 14, 1956, and enjoyed an enduring love for decades. Evelyn predeceased him by four years, and he missed her terribly every single day.
Bud met Evelyn at the ice cream shop where she worked – no wonder he loved ice cream his whole life. They married a few months before he turned 18 and Bud enlisted in the Army. After a few years in the army, four kids and residences in Tennessee and South Carolina, they moved to Miami, where they bought their home and increased the family by two. Together, Bud and Evelyn raised their six children. Bud began working for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, as a tire changer. He studied hard and became a master mechanic before his hard work propelled him into a promotion to Store Manager. A loyal employee and hard-worker, Bud worked for Goodyear over 30 years. He went back to school and earned his High School Diploma in 2004. Bud could fix anything, had an amazing mechanical mind, and never hesitated to get his hands dirty. After his first retirement from Goodyear, he and Evelyn opened H&H Automotive, which they operated together for many years.
Bud loved to fish and take his family out on his boat. He took care of his family, friends and neighbors, and put out a helping hand to anyone in need. He loved all of his family, and enjoyed having his nieces and nephews live with him on occasion. As much as he loved his six children, he absolutely adored his grand and great-grand children.
Bud is survived by their six children: Michael (Anita) Hankins, Connie Higgins, John (Debbi) Hankins, Jerry Hankins, Millie (Tom) Dunn & Robyn (Scott) Walker; their grandchildren Kimberly Hankins, Melanie Hankins, Gene (Julie) Higgins, Jennifer Higgins, Robert (Yarelis) Higgins, Leah (Will) Gordon, John (Megan) Hankins, Jason (Susan) Hankins, Caroline Geckler, Delaney Dunn, Sage Elisabeth Varona and Jaclynn Varona; and his great-grand children: Jacob and Christopher Gordon; Hadley and Ezra Hankins; Edward and Isabella Higgins; and Daisy and Lucy Higgins.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for spinal cord injuries at https://www.christopherreeve.org
A Virtual Celebration of Life Service will be held on February 6 at 4:00 pm, by zoom. Join Zoom Meeting - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87168476800?pwd=QkFpYk0yZGR0NFNkN0UzSlpFMlc2UT09