Walter Emmett Hawkins Jr.

Walter E. Hawkins, Jr.

Walter Emmett Hawkins, Jr., loving father and lifelong resident of Shreveport, passed away peacefully in his home on September 14, 2016 with his daughters beside him. Funeral services will be held at the Glassell Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport on Friday, September 23, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. followed by an interment at Forest Park Cemetery, St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport, LA. Officiating will be The Reverend Thomas Christian Currie. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, LA.

A fifth-generation North Louisianan, Walter was born to Mildred Glassell Hawkins and Walter Emmett Hawkins, Sr. on July 29, 1924. He graduated from C. E. Byrd High School in 1942 and entered Centenary College of Louisiana where he made many lifelong friends, including those in his Kappa Alpha Order. He volunteered for the Army Air Corp as an Aviation Cadet Pilot Trainee and served from 1943 to 1946 in the Army Air Force. He attained the rank of sergeant and served as a radio operator gunner on B-17s and B-24s, as the Air Corps had amassed enough pilots before he finished his training. Having loved planes from a very young age, aviation continued to be a passion all his life.

After his discharge in 1946, Walter returned to Centenary and earned a B.S. in Business Administration, followed by a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with an Industrial Engineering and Management Option from Louisiana State University. He worked as an engineer for J. B. Beaird Corp for three years, then joined his father's Glassell Hicks Cotton Factors and managed Chicora and Carolina Bluff Plantations. He married Eleanor Gaynell Little, with whom he had two daughters.

In 1957 he became a realtor and established Walter Hawkins Company, which operated until his death. His lengthy career was marked with distinction, having served as President of the Shreveport-Bossier Board of Realtors in 1968, a Director of the Board for 37 years as well as a member for 56 years. In 1970 and 1983 he was chosen as Realtor of the Year; he also served for 21 years as a Director of the Louisiana Realtors Association. He was widely known as a reformer of local real estate practices, and worked to establish high ethical standards in the profession.

Walter was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church and served as a Deacon, Elder and President of the Men's Bible Class. He was a member of the Rotary Club of East Shreveport, Sons of the American Revolution, The American Legion, Air Force Association, LSU-S Chancellors' Advisory Committee, Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries as well as being active in many Byrd, Centenary and LSU class reunions.

His eclectic interests included foreign and old cars, militaria, gardening, woodworking and restoring antiques. He especially enjoyed his weekly luncheons with the Rotary Club, Kappa Alpha Order Alumni, Birds of a Feather and the R.O.M.E.O.S. He held membership in the Cotillion Club, Shreveport Country Club, Shreveport Club and Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club.

An amazingly supportive father, he marched to the beat of a different drum, for which his daughters adored him.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Elizabeth Louise "Betty Lou" Alexander Hawkins.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughters Holly Gaynell Hawkins (Don Leslie) of Pasadena, CA, Heather Hawkins Duncan (John) of Mill Valley, CA; step-children Libby Alexander of New Orleans, LA and Dr. James R. Alexander (Stacy) of Shreveport, LA. Two grandsons, Jack Hawkins Duncan and Cole Glassell Duncan of Mill Valley, CA; step-grandchildren Marshall Jones of New York, NY, Dr. R. Walker Jones of Metairie, LA, James "Dee" Alexander of Katy, TX, Leigh Alexander of Boulder, CO, Sara and Elizabeth Keen of Shreveport, LA; cousins, Stephen Glassell (Berry), Vyvian Blanchard and Patricia Faludi of Shreveport, Mary Bradway (Brad) of Starkville, MS, and Anice Morris of Carmichael, CA; and a host of lifelong friends. Lynn Lewis deserves special mention as his devoted housekeeper as does Edith Singelton before her. The family is especially grateful to Louisiana Home Health, in particular Becky Ursua, and Rachel Sullivan; and the wonderful caregivers, Lisa Jackson, Eartha Garner, Sheron Horton, Paula Kelly, Annie Boyd, Cathy Pouncy, Anglea Tucker and Luc Anderson who made his final year one of comfort.

Honoring Walter as pallbearers will be Morris "Skipper" Burns, Scott "Scotty" Dunlop, M. Alton Evans, John J. Guth, A. Glenn Flournoy, Stuart D. Lunn, Robert K. Mayo, William T. Murphy, Dosite H. Perkins, Jr., The Hon. H. Dan Sawyer, and Dr. James B. Weyman. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be members of the Rotary Club, Kappa Alpha Order Alumni, Birds of a Feather and the R.O.M.E.O.S.

The family suggests that memorials be made to the charity of the donor's choice.