Ben Francis Hawkins

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Ben Francis Hawkins passed away peacefully, with his family nearby on October 28, 2018.

He was born in 1934, a son of Vernon Mills Hawkins, III, and Velesta Holmes Hawkins, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He attended schools in Sharon, Massachusetts, graduated from Governor’s Academy, and Cornell University. He later received a Master’s in Economics from SUNY Oneonta, and graduated from the Stonier School of Banking.

In 1956 he married Ruth (Rudy) Landon Clarke of Jamestown, Pennsylvania and together they raised six children. He managed a dairy farm with his father in Benson, Vermont from 1956 to 1964, then spent seventeen years of his career as a banker with Key Bank in Albany and Oneonta, and later served as CFO at Mohawk Finishing Co. in Amsterdam, New York, until his retirement in 1994. Throughout his life Ben was active in community service, church activities, and musical performance. Through his active involvement in Rotary, Ben’s family hosted many exchange students, taking them skiing in VT and boating on Adirondack lakes. In retirement, he and Rudy enjoyed many years in Rhode Island, sailing and helping their community. Since September 2017 they have enjoyed residing in Brooksby Village, Peabody, MA.

He is survived by his wife Rudy, his six children: Tim (Tracy), Bruce (Wendy), Craig (Lisa), Riley (Niki), Nanci (Tony) and Cynci (Jeff), and sixteen grandchildren.

Ben left his body to Tufts Anatomical Research Program. A memorial service will be planned later.

Any memorial gifts may be sent to Brooksby Village Protestant Community 300 Brooksby Village Drive, Peabody, MA 01960 or to Woodbury Union Church, Presbyterian in PO Box 9484, Warwick, RI 02889. To view on-line obituary, visit www.ccbfuneral.com. Arrangements were made by Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home.