Howard Ector Hawkins Jr.

Howard Ector Hawkins, Jr., affectionately known by his family as “Sonny,” was an only child, born to the late Howard Ector Hawkins, Sr. and Pauline Virginia White Hawkins in Columbus, Ohio, on May 17, 1948. He passed this life on September 19, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV. Howard graduated from Eastmoor High School in Columbus, where his favorite activities were the marching band, concert band and the pit band for stage productions. Howard was a member of the All-Ohio Boys Band at the state fair in 1964 and 1965. He attended Capital University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and a minor in aerospace studies in 1970. While at Capital, he played the tuba in the concert and marching bands and was a member of the Students for the Advancement of Afro-American Culture (SAAAC). As an alumnus, he would later serve on the Capital Alumni Advisory Board from 1991 to 2005.

Howard entered the United States Air Force in 1970. As an Air Force ROTC cadet, Howard was a member of the Capital Guard. He accepted a commission as a 2nd Lt. upon graduation and served four years on active duty at Hanscom AFB, MA; Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, and Forbes AFB, KS.

After leaving the Air Force, Howard had a rich and rewarding career with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Cincinnati, OH, from which he retired after 35 years in 2010. In 2013, he decided to leave the Midwest and made his home for many years in Naples, FL. In 2019, desiring to live in the western U.S., Howard moved to Las Vegas, NV.

Howard pursued his passions of music, traveling, and the outdoors throughout his life. A lifelong music lover, he played the tuba in local bands in both Cincinnati and Naples. In 2016, he was elected president of the Naples Concert Band. Another passion of Howard’s was kayaking. In Cincinnati, he had a kayak business, taking novice boaters and his friends out on the Ohio River for instruction. His love for spending time on the river led him to purchase a houseboat, which he cleverly named the “H2-Oh!”

A man of great adventure, Howard lived his life to the fullest, traveling extensively throughout the country and overseas, sometimes with a companion, and oftentimes solo. He enjoyed sharing photos of his travels, visiting famous landmarks, to little-known treasures, such as museums, zoos, and local events. He also found great joy in visiting with friends and family throughout the country.

Howard was a kind and compassionate man, always remembering his loved ones with holiday cards and gifts. He will be missed greatly by his family and friends. Howard leaves his cousins in Georgia and Columbus, OH; lifelong friends, the Ebron family, and many others whom he touched and shared his life adventures.