Brian Roland Hawkes

Brian R. Hawkes, 72, a resident of Wilbraham for 31 years, formerly of Orange, MA, died late Thursday evening, July 4, 2019 at Mercy Medical Center. He was born in Springfield, raised and educated in Orange, a son of the late Roland T. and Mildred E. (Anderson) Hawkes, and was a graduate of Greenfield Community College. Brian was a veteran of the Vietnam War serving with the U.S. Navy as an E4 Radarman aboard the USS Bassilone. He was employed for over 27 years as a limousine driver for several local transportation companies. Brian was a member and Past Master of the former Orange Lodge AF & AM, Past Patron of the former Adelphi Chapter, O.E.S., and member of the Temple Guard of the Shriners. Some of his favorite pastimes included fishing, golfing and cooking. He leaves his devoted wife and best friend of 31 years, Linda E. ((Machler) Hawkes of Wilbraham; two step-children, Christine L. Lightner and her husband Jonathan and their daughters, Emma and Lauren all of Kansas, and John A. Logan and his wife Millicent and their son Kendall all of Springfield. A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 8th at 2:00 PM at Bethlehem Church, 123 Allen St., in Hampden. One hour of visitation will precede his service at the church from 1:00 – 2:00 PM. Navy honors and burial at sea will take place at a later date. Instead of flowers his family would prefer contributions in his name be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104. The Byron Keenan Funeral Home is honored to be handling the arrangements.