William "Bill" Whitson Hawkins, 83, of Madisonville, Ky. passed away at 9:25 a.m. on Sunday January 2, 2011 at Maple Manor Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Greenville, Ky.

He was born on December 19, 1927 in Slaughters, Ky. to the late Warren Thomas Hawkins and Ola Lynn Crabtree Hawkins. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during WWII. He worked for 31 years at Fautless Caster in Evansville, IN. He was in the insurance business for 25 years having managed an insurance co. in Hopkinsville, Ky. He owned and operated Hawkins Insurance Co. in Madisonville and sometime later managed Elk Creek Mobile Home Park in Madisonville for 7 years. He was a member of West Union Baptist Church in Hopkinsville, Ky.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by three sisters, Christine Dockery, Ruth Yoder and Mary Chandler and a brother, James Hawkins.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Rush "Jean" Chandler Hawkins of Madisonville; a daughter, Dixie (Allen) Majors of Crofton, Ky; two sons, Victor (Brenda) Hawkins and Dale (Sharon) Hawkins all of Madisonville; three sisters, Rae Baldwin of Newburgh, IN., Effie Baldwin of Madisonville and Betty Esche of Newburgh, IN.; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday January 5, 2011 in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville with Bro. Buddy Weatherford officiating. Burial will be in Hanson Cemetery in Hanson, Ky. Military rites will be conducted graveside by 101st Airborne Division of Ft. Campbell, Ky. and the Hopkins County Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until the funeral hour Wednesday at Harris Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Wilson, Clint Hawkins, Tommy Hawkins, Mark Chandler, Chris Smith and Kendall Bennett.

Memorial contributions may be made to West Union Baptist Church Building Fund 12382 Old Fruit Hill Rd. Crofton, Ky. 42217.