GED4WEB version 4.41 Hawkins Claude Walter [Male] b. 15 APR 1897 Mina Kansas - d. BET 1932 AND 1988
[wwspiers-erickson.GED]
Claude was born to Walter and Anna (Detwieler) Hawkins. After the untimely death of his father and the absence of his mother, he went to live with his grandparents, John Henry and Mollie (Hurt) Hawkins. Claude worked on their farm and later on his aunts and uncle's farm.
During World War I, Claude joined the Navy. John Henry suggested the Navy rather than the Army based on his own experiences in the Civil War, Confederate Army, being knee deep in mud all the time. Claude was assigned to the USS Prarie, an old banana boat, refitted as a torpedo tender. He made many trips to the Azores. While in the Navy, Claude met Ruth after being invited home to dinner by her sister. They had been at a church dance. At the end of the war and within 10 days Liberty, Claude borrowed the money from a nurse to return to Ruth and marry her.
Ruth stayed on in Chicago while Claude went to Nebraska to look for work. She busied herself by working in a Sears photoshop. Upon finding a job on a farm he sent for Ruth. It was in Nebraska that Ruth and Claude's first child was born and shortly after, died. Ruth wanted to leave Nebraska, so the couple packed up and moved back to Chicago. Claude got a job working the Sears Catalog printing presses. He worked there for two years, until they locked the employees out and eventually moved the presses out of town. Claude found work at a Swedish newspaper, running the folding machine. He continued to work there for 30 years.
They decided to pack up again and move to California where their son lived. Claude worked another 10 years at a job in San Francisco.
After Ruth died in 1988, Claude sold his belongings and moved to the Palo Alto Commons, a senior apartment complex. While in his 90's he has made several trips back to Kansas, making stops to see other family along the way. Glacoma prevents him from seeing, so he made the trips with his son and a daughter-in law. He is a fiesty man of indomitable spirit, overcoming many hardships.
Grandpa enjoyed gardening and at one time kept bees. He has a fantastic memory with many interesting stories to tell.
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