Deacon Melvin “Mickey” Hawkins

Funeral Mass for Deacon Melvin “Mickey” Hawkins, 75, who died Monday, May 20, was celebrated Wednesday, May 29 at Westerville St. Paul the Apostle Church.

He was born on May 13, 1948 to Melvin and Mary Catharine (O'Reilly) Hawkins. He was a graduate of Columbus St. James the Less School and Columbus St. Francis DeSales High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Franklin University in 1975. He was a member of the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1966 to 1969, serving in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969, and was employed for 31 years by the Ohio Bell Telephone Co. and its successor, Ameritech.

He began diaconal studies in 1995 and was ordained to the diaconate on Feb. 3, 2001 by Bishop James Griffin at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral. He performed his diaconal service at St. Paul Church from then until his retirement in 2022 and also served as administrator at Sts. Peter and Paul Retreat Center in Newark and business manager at Columbus St. Mary, Mother of God Church and Powell St. Joan of Arc Church. His final employment was as a school bus driver for VAT Inc. of Columbus and the Westerville schools.

He was among the founders of the St. Paul School Athletic Association in the early 1980s, serving as president in 1992. He also coached football and baseball at the school, was active in its Stewardship Employment Ministry and was diocesan Scout chaplain for several years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughters, Mary and Ann; and brother, Msgr. Stephen Hawkins. Survivors include his wife, Patricia (Morey); sons, Scott (Jennifer), Joe (Olivia) and Dan (Amy); daughter, Karen (Jamie) Hardy; brothers, Mark (Jody) and Jeff (Wendy); and nine grandchildren.


BARNES, Gene E., 91, May 13

Sacred Heart Church, New Philadelphia


BRANNIGAN, Margaret M. “Peggy” (McGinty), 90, May 8 

Church of the Resurrection, New Albany


CAIN, Christina Marie, 57, May 12

St. Mary Church, Marion


CALDERONE, Palmer “Cal,” 91, May 10

St. Michael Church, Worthington


CANNANE, Billie Ann, 68, May 14

St. Mary Church, Marion


CANTWELL, Michael G., 67, May 7

St. Andrew Church, Columbus


CARMACK, Joanne (Luxbacher), 83, March 5

Sacred Heart Church, New Philadelphia


DAVIS, Jeanne M. (Grady), 90, May 9

St. Andrew Church, Columbus


DINAN, Theresa (Campbell), 79, May 16

St. Elizabeth Church, Columbus


DOTY, Shirley J., 89, May 15

St. Mary Church, Marion


DOYLE, Cecilia A., 73, May 4

Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel, Columbus


DUPRE, Pamela (Gagnon), 69, May 19

St. Joseph Church, Dover


FOLEY, Thomas B., 76, May 12

St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Columbus


GERLACH, Michael C., 79, May 13

St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Columbus


GUY, H. Kenneth, 92, May 11

St. Francis de Sales Church, Newark


HOESSLY, Katherine A. “Kitty” (Griggs), 101, May 18

St. Timothy Church, Columbus


HOOPER, Austin Dale, 72, May 14

St. Nicholas Church, Zanesville


MASON, Frances (Martin), 91, May 8

St. Joseph Church, Dover


PERKO, Joseph G., 81, April 24

St. Joseph Cathedral, Columbus


RENICKER, Joanne (Tamborini), 84, May 5

Sacred Heart Church, New Philadelphia


SIMMONS, David W., 65, May 8

St. Joseph Cathedral, Columbus


WALTERS, Ronald A., 77, May 11

St. Andrew Church, Columbus


WISINTAINER, Evelyn (Weller), 84, April 2

Sacred Heart Church, New Philadelphia