Herbert C. Hawkins, known as "Herbie," died Wednesday, October 18th at the age of 80 in the Convalescent Care Center in Lompoc with loving family and friends at his bedside.

Born on January 19, 1926 in International Falls, Minnesota and he was raised in the nearby village of Littlefork. Herbie was the son of the late Ralph and Ardus (Stephenson) Hawkins.

Herbie came to Lompoc in the spring of 2005. He loved walking, fishing, viewing wildlife at local parks, and was fascinated by the colorful flower fields here. He thoroughly enjoyed activities and friendships at the Valley Haven Senior Day Program, the Lodge of Lompoc, and at his church.

In December 2005, Herbie was blessed with a childlike reawakening of faith in Jesus and was baptized at Lompoc Foursquare Church in May. Until he became seriously ill in early October, he thrived on going to church on Sundays and participating at men's ministry activities. Herbie served with joyful enthusiasm on the church's Graffiti Removal Team.

Patriotic and always proud to be WWII veteran, Herbie received an honorable discharge from the US Navy for service in 1945-49. He served with his shipmates in the South Pacific during battles near the Marshall Islands and at Griffen Island. He also participated in Operation Crossroads and the Bikini Island Atomic Bomb experiment in the Pacific. When he ended his tour with the Navy he was a First Class Boilermaker. He received the following medals: Good Conduct, American Area, Asiatic Pacific Area, and Victory World War II.

After leaving the Navy in February 1949, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in September of that year. He was later honorably discharged from the Army for service in 1949-51.

Herbie wore his Navy dress blues when he married Theresa Agnes Deloge on March 16, 1948. Following a very brief courtship, their simple wedding ceremony was held in Wauregan, Connecticut (his bride's hometown) at the rectory of Sacred Heart Church in Wauregan.

After putting the military behind him in 1951, Herbie held a variety of jobs over the decades of his working career. He spent some time as a carpenter's helper, a laborer in construction and driving a big-rig. When his sons were little, he owned and operated a gas station. He worked in the weave shop of a curtain mill, and at various times he performed the duties of a machinist and a quality assurance inspector. Connecticut companies he worked for included Pratt & Whitney, Kaman Aircraft, United Nuclear and Numa Tool. For a few years in the 1980s Herbie and his wife lived in California where he worked as a quality assurance inspector for McDonald Douglas and Hydro Mill in Chatsworth.

At the end of his working years, Herbie worked one of his favorite jobs alongside both his sons as a machinist at Numa Tool in Thompson, Connecticut.

In 1998, Herb & Theresa renewed their vows on their 50th wedding anniversary in the same church where they married in Wauregan, Connecticut the town where they had spent most of their married lives. Together they raised five children. His life was always focused on being a provider while loving his wife and children.
Shortly after the love of his life, Theresa, passed away on November 28, 2003, Herbie moved to California, settling first in Tehachapi and then Lompoc.

He is survived by two sons, Herbert R. Hawkins of Raleigh, North Carolina and Bruce Hawkins of Brooklyn, Connecticut; three daughters, Susan Messier of Wauregan, Connecticut, Bernice Janssen of Tehachapi, California and Ann Cousineau of Lompoc; three sisters, Wanda Rucki of Wauregan, Connecticut; Roberta Gutowski of Pickerel, Wisconsin and Ione DeGrave of Cable, Wisconsin; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; along with a host of loving friends in Lompoc.

A Celebration of Life memorial service honoring Herbie will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at the Lompoc Foursquare Church, 125 North C Street, Lompoc, California. In lieu of flowers, those who desire, memorial donations in Herbie's name may be sent to the Valley Haven Senior Day Program—LOMPOC, PO Box 950, Solvang, CA 93464. Starbuck-Lind Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.