I am saddened to tell you that ABS Journeyman Smith Rade Hawkins of Fayette County, GA passed away at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital on December 30, 2014 after an extended illness. We extend our thoughts and prayers to his wife June, his family, and many friends.
The obituary for Rade was published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today at, Click: Obituary for Rade Hawkins
Rade Lee HAWKINS
1938 - 2015 | Obituary |
HAWKINS, Rade Lee Rade Lee Hawkins of Fayette County GA passed away at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital on December 30, 2014 after an extended illness. He was born at home in Cherokee County Georgia in 1938. Rade was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Fleet aboard the USS Cimmeron and the USS Hector AR-7 where he was the ships boxing champion. Rade held the National Board Certificate to inspect and certify commercial boiler and pressure vessels. He was a Senior Engineer for the Cincinnati Insurance Company until his early retirement in 1994. He coached little league baseball in College Park, GA. An avid sportsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Rade was an exceptional knife maker for over 40 years, and a voting member of the Knifemakers Guild, the American Bladesmith Society, the Georgia Knifemakers Guild and the Flint River Knife Club. His custom knives are owned by collectors and hunters all over the world. He partnered with his wife June of 56 ½ years and his son Russell (Rusty) in Hawkins Knifemaking Supplies, a mail order and trade show business selling supplies to other knifemakers. Rade was a past recipient of the Red Watson Memorial Friendship Award. This award is reserved to those knifemakers who extend friendship and share knifemaking knowledge to others. Rade was preceded in death by his parents, Broughton & Jewel Hawkins. He is survived by his wife, June; son, Russell and his partner of 21 years Catherine Price of Fayetteville; sisters Mary Dailey of Sarasota, FL, Linnie Liles (Othel) of Griffin, GA, Winnie Miley (Ronnie) of Griffin, GA; two "honorary" granddaughters, Madalyn (4) and Abigail (2) Vickers of Fayetteville, GA; Uncle Clarence Hawkins; Aunts Ollie Parks and Agnes Dutton; numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 1:00 PM at the Chapel of Mowell Funeral Home, burial to follow at Westview Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 2, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. C.J. Mowell & Son, Fayetteville - www.mowellfuneralhome.com
Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jan. 2, 2015
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
We've lost too many this year. I haven't talked with Ray for some time but still considered him a friend and he will be missed.
All my best to the family.
Gary
Sorry to hear about this. Another knifemaker passing away. 2014 has not been kind to the knifemaking community. I never met Rade, but heard many good things about him. My condolences to his family and friends.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
Of any knife supply table I ever approached, the warmest and friendliest were behind Rade's table. He was a good man that made getting supplies more of an opportunity to talk to a friend. The knifemaking world is sure going to be lonelier place in 2015.
"One test is worth 1000 'expert' opinions" Riehle Testing Machines Co.
So sorry to hear of Rade's passing. He was a nice guy. 2014 was a rough year. Sending prayers for Rade's family and friends.
