Online Obituaries

James Dewitt Hawkes, age 90, of Agawam, MA passed away on January 26th at his residence at Quail Run surrounded by his family after a long illness. James “Jim” was born on March 4, 1932 to Walter and Doris Hawkes in Brattleboro, VT. After Jim graduated from Chapman Technical High School in New London, CT he went on to study Accounting at the University of Connecticut.

He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1954 with an accounting degree. He also participated in the ROTC program. He was called to active duty at Lackland AFB, TX in the fall of that year. Major Hawkes retired from the Air Force in February 1976 with 22 years of service. He was a Command Pilot with the Strategic Air Command and was awarded a Bronze Star and 3 Air Medals for 69 combat B-52 missions over Vietnam. He flew numerous aircraft over the years including Piper Cubs, T-6’s, T-28’s, T-29’s, T-33’s, B-25’s, B-47’s, B-52’s and C-47’s. Following his retirement from the Air Force he went back to school and earned an Electronics Degree from Springfield Technical Community College in 1978. He continued his career with Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, CT, working another fourteen years as the Senior CAD/CAM instructor, he retired in 1992.

He had grown up across the street from Muriel Lake who became his wife in 1954. He leaves behind 3 children, James B. and his wife Melinda Hawkes of South Hadley, MA, Mark and his wife Deborah Hawkes of Southampton, MA and Becky and her husband Luis Medina of Tolland, CT, five grandchildren Jennifer and her husband Jason Hewitt of Havertown, PA, Jonathan Hawkes of San Francisco, CA, Adam and his wife Sarah Medina of Tolland, CT, Alyssa Hawkes of Westfield, MA and Alex Medina of Tolland, CT as well as 2 great grandchildren Cameron and Adelynne and his constant companion of 14 years, his cat Pumpkin, who found a new forever home. The family moved around while in the Air Force from Florida to New York to Kansas to California to Maine back to Florida and finally Chicopee, MA in 1972. Jim was predeceased by his wife Muriel in 2017 after 62 years of marriage.

The family would like to thank the staff and services provided by Quail Run which helped him continue to live independently. They would also like to thank Beacon Hospice, Paige and Cheryl, who were not only his care givers but became his friends.

A calling hour will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at the Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home on 69 East St., in Chicopee Falls, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. A funeral home service will be held at 12:30 pm. Burial will follow in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St. in Agawam at 2 pm. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations can also be made to your favorite charity in his honor.