Linda Hawkins Obituary
LINDA KAY (WRIGHT) HAWKINS, 76, died on December 2, 2025 in Beckley, WV of pancreatic cancer.
Linda was born in Portsmouth, VA Naval Hospital on November 16, 1949 and was the daughter of LCDR Leonard Kyle Wright (USN retired) and Margaret Rita (Engelhardt) Wright.
She was a natural born librarian and collected books as soon as she had a permanent residence. She truly enjoyed WV riverbank fishing and glamping in their Holiday Rambler camper and fishing on Lake Norman, NC in their sparkly blue bass boat,.
Linda started her public education in San Diego, CA and graduated from high school in Charleston, SC; received her BS in Education from Concord College and MA in Education from Marshall University. She was a former member of the Beckley Women's Club, the Ladies Auxiliary American Legion Post #32; and AFSCME #3226.
Professionally she retired from the WV State Treasurers Office as Director of Financial Literacy, wherein she trained WV School teachers to utilize free financial literacy materials she found across the US while serving on the VISA. National committee for financial education; previously she had been the former College of WV JTPA director and project manager for the USDoE exploration and development of 3 methane gas wells in WV and methane projects in Alaska and Poland and the NASA mining for helium on the moon. In her earlier career she was a reference tech for the Air Force contracted MITRE Corp in McLean, VA; Raleigh County BoE, Control Data (Valley Training) Office Tech instructor; Wooton, Wooton, & Fragile law secretary.
Predeceasing her are her husband of 55 years Neal Hawkins her parents, her father Leonard Kyle Wright, her step-mother Sibyl Davis Wright, paternal grandparents Leonard and Rhoda Anne Wright, maternal grandparents Martin and Dorothy (Lee) Engelhardt Hourigan.
She is survived by son Lee Hawkins (Susan) of Beckley, WV and daughter Kae Beaumont (Brian) of Warwick, RI; granddaughters Emma Hawkins of Beckley, WV; Kaylin and Breelyn Beaumont of Warwick, RI; step grandson Justin Smith of Beckley, WV; sister Jeanne Dee of Miami, FL; step-sister Jo Sizemore of Bradenton, FL. Cousins that have stayed in contact over the decades include Lorrainna Certone (Michael) of Elk, WA; Jim Fox of San Marcos, CA and Rhonda Colgan of PalmDale, CA. Sisters-in-law Darleen Norton and Barbara Hawkins were her back-up Plan B for decades; Neal's best friend, John Kerzic (the first back-up plan) ; special thanks to college friend Dr Glenn Crotty who did his best to keep Linda here; the nurturing outpatient staff of Hospice of SWV and respite care staff at Hospice Bowers House; Tracy Dillon Parks for being brave enough to take on the task of executrix and referee; and lastly, Linda's constant companion, 18 y/o Smokey the cat.
The Wake will be held from 5:00-7:00pm at Melton Mortuary on Friday December 5, 2025 followed by a short service with Ron Brunk, of Shepherdstown, WV, a friend who always made Linda look knowledgeable in front of visiting dignitaries, presenting the eulogy. Cremation will follow this week.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bowers Hospice House (https://www.hospiceofsouthernwv.org/donate)or the Humane Society of Raleigh County (https://hsrcwv.org/contact/)
P.S. Linda wanted to remind you not to be sad at her passing but treat it as she did as her last great adventure she knew would be happening since being informed during her VBS days as a youngster. She is sorry that she can't send postcards this time, but Jesus will let you know she arrived. Watch out for those pennies!! Bon Voyage