Eleanor Hawkins

Eleanor Hawkins, previously of 605 East Main Union, SC, passed away peacefully at Clemson Downs November 21, 2015. Born July 19, 1916, Eleanor Merkel Schnepfe was the first born and last surviving of four daughters of Elsa Christine and Norman John Schnepfe of Edgewood, Maryland. After graduating from Bel Air High School at age 16, she attended Towson State Teachers' College and began her teaching career in Baltimore, Maryland, where she met her future husband, Randolph Hawkins, and was one of the multitude of war brides being married in the "Summer of '42." Her war years were spent as a Navy bride in Charleston and later Beaufort, SC with in-between years serving as a working "Rosie" at Edgewood Arsenal while her husband was overseas. After the war, she and Randolph returned to his family home in Union, SC, where she was a contributing member of the community for the next 64 years. After becoming a loving mother of three daughters, she re-established her teaching career in the mid 1950s, first, at in the Ottaray community, then at Foster Park Elementary where she retired in 1982. Because of her life-long love of books and reading, she transitioned from school teacher to school librarian in the mid 1960s. She was instrumental in establishing quality libraries in many sub-standard elementary schools throughout the county, so-existing due to the legacy of Jim Crow. Foster Park Elementary School library was named in her honor. Her community activities included the following: active member of Grace United Methodist Church, active member and president of the Foster Park PTA, membership in the Union Historical Society, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, Friends of Union Carnegie Library, charter member and one-time president of the Union Cotillion, charter member of the Union Country Club. She was active in various church circles, book clubs, and bridge clubs. She believed one's life-duty was to do for others. She lived this belief and was never idle. When she was not reading, she cooked, sewed, knitted, needlepointed, smocked, did crewel work, painted, made clothes and sweaters and blankets for herself, her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors, her church and finally for total strangers by knitting caps and scarves for the Merchant Marine and delivering Meals on Wheels while into her 80s and 90s. Eleanor Hawkins was a beloved mother, wife, daughter, sister, and aunt. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Dr. Virgil Randolph Hawkins, her three sisters, Mary Ann Price, Jean Clare Elliott, and Lois Mae O'Neill. She is survived by her daughters, Deborah Teeple of Pickens, Christine Ehlies of Belton, and Mary Cecil Parker of Seneca; also five grandchildren, William Paul Parker, Dylan Hall Parker, Sarah Christine Teeple, William Harry Ehlies, and Timothy Randolph Ehlies. Memorial services will be 3:00 Dec. 8 at Grace United Methodist Church with interment after the service. The family will receive visitors in the church parlor at 1:30. Holcomb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Fisher House Foundation, (fisherhouse.org) supporting the families of wounded veterans at PO Box 97229 Washington, DC 20077. Include with donation: In memory of Eleanor Hawkins with acknowledgments sent to M.C. Parker 204 Morningside Hgts. Dr. Seneca, SC. Or donate to the Virgil Randolph Hawkins Scholarship Fund PO Drawer 729 Union, SC 29379.