John Hawkins

May 3, 1952 - March 28, 2021

John Hawkins, age 68 of Mentor, passed away Sunday, March 28, 2021 at home. He was born May 3, 1952 in Cleveland, OH to the late Ellison Golphin and Marion Hawkins. John, also known as “Gilbert” and “The Hawk”, will be fondly remembered as a very generous, kind and caring person. He met no strangers and his friendships were genuine and lasting. John attended John Hay where he graduated, receiving his high school diploma. He then became employed as a bus driver for the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), until he retired after 31 years of service. Instead of kicking his feet up after retirement, John was so active that he chose to take a position as a School Bus Driver for Mentor’s Public School System where he worked for 8 years until he retired. The kids loved him so much, they drew him pictures and wrote letters of gratitude! It goes without saying that he was a proficient driver and enjoyed his work. John was loved by many! John was a very social and outgoing person. He loved being around people, his favorite pastime was often chatting and hanging out with family and friends. He loved the outdoors. Some of his hobbies included bowling, skiing, riding motorcycles, camping out, dining out, and his all time favorite; rocking out to his favorite tunes and movies (he was an all around music enthusiast). He enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a God-fearing man and followed the Golden Rule of treating others the way he wanted to be treated. His beautiful smile and fun demeanor will certainly be missed by all who loved him. Survivors include his daughter, Heather Hawkins; siblings, Felicia Hawkins, Michele Hawkins, Phillip Hawkins, and Maurice Hawkins; nieces and nephews, Kendra, Ariel, Aaron, Naijal, Rahmien, Latif, Phillip Jr., and Cqualif Hawkins; great niece and nephew, Marlie Hagler and Noa Hawkins; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m., Friday, April 9, 2021 at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, April 10, 2021 at the funeral home. Masks are required and social distancing is encouraged during all publicly attended events. Please offer condolences at www.brunners.com