Donald L. Hawes

1937 - 2023

Don Hawes passed away peacefully at his home in Kingwood on Monday, the 9th of January 2023 from Alzheimer's disease at the age of eighty-five.



Don was born a fifth-generation Texan in Fort Worth, Texas on the 2nd of September in 1937. In 1942, his family moved to Pasadena, Texas where his father would work in the growing Houston Shipyard industry. Don graduated in 1955 from Pasadena High School. Don was introduced to music in his childhood, playing the French horn. He received a scholarship in music from the University of Houston and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Don married Autumn Hix in 1963 in Pasadena, Texas. After briefly living in Pasadena and LaPorte, Texas, the couple moved with their son and daughter to Kingwood, Texas in 1977.



Music was always a part of his life, early on playing in the Houston Symphony, serving as a high school band director, and co-owning/operating music instrument stores. Later in his career, Don returned to teaching and playing the French horn in the Galveston Symphony Orchestra and Kingwood Pops Orchestra, retiring from Humble ISD in 2007.



In addition to music, Don loved poetry, Texas history, restoring antiques, and serving in his church, where he had roles as choir director, vestry member, and head usher. Most of all, Don loved his family and friends, and especially loved his wife, son, daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters - who affectionately referred to him as Papaw.



Don is preceded in death by his father, Everett Van Hawes, Sr.; his mother, Bennie Eubank Hawes; his older brother, Everett Van Hawes, Jr.; and his younger sister, Elizabeth Ann Hawes Gumm.



Don is survived by his loving wife of fifty-nine years, Autumn; his son, Donald of Kingwood; his daughter, Amy Pincu and her husband, Jordan and granddaughters, Mattie and Mary Clare Pincu, all of Houston. Extended family includes his sisters-in-law Judy Geissen and her husband, Donald of Bulverde, Texas and Jane Hawes of Mineola, Texas; his brother-in-law, Jim Hix of Naples, Florida; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.



A memorial service with committal was held on Saturday, the 21st of January at eleven o'clock in the morning at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Kingwood, 2929 Woodland Hills Drive.