SPRINGFIELD -- Dr. Ralph G. Hawkins, 81, died Feb. 15, 2012, peacefully in his home with his family.
Born June 12, 1930, he was the son of the late Ralph N. Hawkins and Marguerite Hawkins (Landrem).
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Patty Hawkins Kalushe.
In August 1955, in Pittsburg, Kan., he married Dorothy June Case who survives.
Hawkins graduated from Portageville High School in 1949. In 1951 he joined the U.S. Air Force, serving as a photographer and for four years in the Pacific area.
Hawkins earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Pittsburg State College. In 1957, he moved to Portageville, where he worked with his father and brother at the Portageville Missourian Newspaper.
In 1962, he purchased the Gideon and Clarkton newspapers and moved to Gideon. In 1964, he accepted his first educator position as head of Photo Services and Graphics at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. In 1966, he accepted a position at Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Ill., as director of Graphics and supervisor of the Graphics Department. In 1968, he accepted a position as director of Educational Media Services at Missouri State University where he helped to establish the Educational Media Department. He earned his Doctor of Education from the University of Arkansas in 1979. Then he finished his years at Missouri State University teaching until his retirement in 1996 after 28 dedicated teaching years.
He had a passion for amateur radio, spending time talking to people around the world on his ham and citizens band radios. He also enjoyed traveling, dancing and Silver Dollar City with his wife.
He was a member of the Kings Way United Methodist Church and First and Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield and most recently at Aldersgate Methodist Church in Nixa.
He was a member of the Missouri Association of Education, Communication and Technology; National Association of Educators and Broadcasters; National Audio Visual Association; Amateur Radio League; Phi Delta Kappa; Boy Scout Committee; Kiwanis Club; Tau Kappa Epsilon; Circle K Advisor; and the Springfield Cable Television Advisory Board.
Survivors include: three sons and two daughters-in-law, Randy Hawkins, Michael and Cathy Hawkins of the Springfield area; and Christopher and Sandi Hawkins of Ridgway, Colo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Bob Lewis; a brother, Don Hawkins of Portageville; 14 grandchildren, Zachary, Cody, Shane, Carson, Jessica, Gabby, Stacy, Steven, Bob, Casey, Dillon, Tanner, Lily and Hannah; and two great-grandchildren, Kylie and Noah.
Services were held Feb, 21, 2012, in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel in Springfield.
- - -
Memorials contributions
may be made to:
American Cancer Society
and
Alzheimer's Association
Paid obituary