William R. Hawkins Jr., loved sailing

William Ross 'Bill' Hawkins Jr., 80, of Earleville, Md., died Wednesday, June 26, 2013, in Seasons Hospice at Christiana Hospital.

Bill was born April 30, 1933, in Philadelphia, Pa., son of the late William R. Hawkins Sr. and Lucille Plummer Hawkins. He was a 1951 graduate of William Penn High School in New Castle. After gradation he served with the U.S. Navy for four years. He began his career in 1958 with DuPont working at the Experimental Station for 33 years, retiring as project manager.

He loved building boats, helping his friends and sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. For 10 years he and his wife enjoyed sailing the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Bill is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy Blei Hawkins; three children, Sheryll Hawkins Watkins (Jim) of Jackson's Gap, Ala., Stephen W. Hawkins of Earleville, and Wendy Hawkins Morris (Robert) of Pittsboro, N.C.; his brothers, C. Spencer Hawkins (Joan) of Earleville, and Wayne Hawkins (Shauna) of Lewes; a sister, Jacqueline Dianich (David) of Easton, Md.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at noon, Monday, July 1, in the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, 118 W. Cross St. Galena, Md., where friends may call from 11 to 12.

The family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or Seasons Hospice in lieu of flowers.